The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved an amendment to the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958 that allows construction within 100 metres of monuments. The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites Remains (Amendment) Bill, 2017, will soon be introduced in Parliament, the Press Information Bureau said.

The amended Act gives the Centre the power to begin construction work in the “prohibited” area – a 100-metre radius – around the monuments. Attempting to allay fears that the this will pose a threat to the stability of fragile structures, the government in its circular said only “constructions related to public works and projects essential to the public” would be built in the prohibited area. It added that the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites Remains Act, 1958, which banned new construction within the prohibited area of a centrally protected monument/site, was adversely affecting various public works and development projects.

The proposal to ease the rules governing the protection of archaeologically significant sites, including Unesco World Heritage Sites, had come from the culture ministry in January this year. The authority that will have the final say in matters of construction will be the National Monuments Authority. Currently, the body vets applications for construction in the “regulated” area – the 200-metre radius – around monuments.