Odisha Govt’s Unlawful Action On Centrally Protected Monuments Not Desirable: Aparajita

Bhubaneswar: BJP MP from Bhubaneswar Aparajita Sarangi today said that Odisha government should understand the statutory requirements under AMSAR Act (The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act) before carrying out any developmental activities at nationally protected monuments in the State.

"Unlawful action on part of State Govt is not desirable," she tweeted.

While posting the letter sent to the Odisha government by the Ministry of Culture on her twitter account, Sarangi stated that developmental activities should be carried out in accordance with laws.

Earlier on March 8, Union Culture Secretary had written to the Odisha Chief Secretary mentioning that the State government should understand the statuary requirements under AMSAR Act while dealing with national monuments.

All of us want Development.But Develpt activities must be in accordance with Law .GoI writes to Odisha Govt to understand the statutory requirements under AMSAR Act & the Rules while dealing with heritage monuments.
Unlawful actions on part of State Govt is not desirable. pic.twitter.com/z9AX5Xq4FC

— Aparajita Sarangi, Member of Parliament (@AprajitaSarangi) March 18, 2021

In the letter, Culture Secretary Raghvendra Singh had suggestions/objections from the State government and other stakeholders before finalising Bye-Laws for four monumnets in Odisha- Brahmeswar Temple (Khurda), Ananta Basudeva Temple (Bhubaneswar), Mukteshwar Temple (Bhubaneswr) and Rameshwar Temple (Bhubaneswar).

Singh further had stated that the procedure for preparation of Heritage Bye Laws (HBL) under AMSAR Act is laid down in Rules.

He said that seven stages are involved for the finalization of heritage buy-laws. These include:-

1. Preparation of Survey Plan of the monument by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
2. Preparation of draft HBL as per Survey 'plan and submission to National Monuments Authority (NMA or the Authority).
3. Draft HBL is examined by the Authority, after incorporating suggestions/corrections by the members of the Authority, the e is then put on the public portal for inviting suggestions/ objections from the public (Rule 18 of National Monuments Authority (Appointment, Functions and Conduct of Business) Rules, 2011. I am attaching copy of these Rules.
4. The suggestions/ objections received during consultation are considered by the Authority and if required, public hearing is also conducted.
5. The HBL is again placed before the authority after incorporating all the relevant suggestions from stakeholders for the final approval by the Authority.
6. The approved HBL is sent to the Ministry and thereafter laid before both the Houses of the Parliament (Section 20 E, sub section 6 of the AMASR Act 1958).
7. Thereafter approved HBL is posted on the website of NMA, ASI, MoC (Section 20E, sub section 7 of the AMASR Act 1958). The approved HBL is also sent to the Urban Local Body for getting incorporated in the local building bye-laws.