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17th February 2023 (7 Topics)

AMASR amendment Bill to come up in Parliament

Context

The government is all set to reintroduce the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (AMASR) (Amendment) Bill in the forthcoming second half of the Budget session.

About

The AMASR Act of 1958

  • The AMASR Act regulates the preservation of ancient and historical monuments and archaeological sites.
  • It provides for the regulation of archaeological excavations and for protection of sculptures, carvings and other such objects.
  • The Archaeological Survey of India functions under the provisions of this Act.
  • The Act prohibits construction in a prohibited area of 100 metres around protected monuments.
    • It does not permit construction in such prohibited areas even for public purposes, except under certain conditions.
    • The Central government can extend the prohibited area beyond 100 meters.

Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)

  • The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), under the Ministry of Culture, was established in the year 1861.
  • It is the premier organization for the archaeological researches and protection of the cultural heritage of the nation.

What is in the Bill?

  • The AMASR (Amendment) Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha in 2017. The Bill amends the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958.
  • Control over prohibited area:It allows the government to take up infrastructure projects within prohibited areas around protected monuments.
  • Public works:It introduced a definition for ‘public works’, which includes construction of any infrastructure that is financed and carried out by Central government for public purposes.
    • It allows the Centre to allow public works based on the recommendation of the National Monuments Authority, on an application forwarded by the relevant Central government department that seeks to carry out construction for public purposes in a prohibited area.
  • The Bill was, however, referred to a select committee in the Rajya Sabha, which subsequently submitted its report in 2018.

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