Allahabad HC issues notice to Union government, state and ASI on dilapidated condition of various heritage sites in U.P.
Why in news: The Allahabad High Court issued a notice to the Union Government, UP State Government, and ASI regarding the dilapidated condition of heritage sites in Uttar Pradesh following a PIL by advocate Akash Vashishtha.
The court issued notices to the Union Ministries of Culture, Tourism, and Housing and Urban Affairs, the ASI, the National Monuments Authority, and the State Archaeology Department. The petition relied on data from the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) regarding neglected structures.
Prelims pointers (3)
- BodyINTACH: Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage is a non-profit organization for heritage conservation.
- BodyNational Monuments Authority: Body responsible for the protection and preservation of monuments.
- PlaceAllahabad High Court: The judicial body overseeing the petition in Uttar Pradesh.
Mains angle
Q. Discuss the institutional and logistical challenges in preserving India's decaying heritage sites and suggest measures to ensure their long-term conservation.
- Inter-agency friction: Overlapping jurisdictions between ASI, State Archaeology Departments, and Urban Development bodies.
- Funding deficit: Inadequate budgetary allocation for the maintenance of non-monumental heritage structures.
- Urban encroachment: Rapid urbanization and lack of buffer zones threatening the structural integrity of historical sites.
Keywords: Heritage Conservation · Public Interest Litigation · Cultural Preservation · Institutional Accountability · Urban Encroachment