Centre proposes revised list of ticketed ASI monuments; 30 in Category A, 136 in Category B

Panchkula, Sep 9 (UNI) The Centre has proposed a revised list of protected monuments under the entrance-fee framework of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Rules, assigning 30 sites to Category A and 136 to Category B.

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), under the Ministry of Culture, has proposed replacing the Second Schedule of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Rules, 1959, through draft amendment rules published in the Gazette of India on September 8.The proposal is currently in draft form.

The Centre has invited objections and suggestions, which will be considered 45 days after the Gazette notification is made available to the public. The amendment will take effect only upon its final publication in the Official Gazette. The proposed Second Schedule is divided into Part I for Category A Monuments and Part II for Category B Monuments. The notification does not indicate that these categories represent a ranking by heritage importance. Category A includes the Group of Moidams at Charaideo in Assam, the Nalanda excavated site in Bihar, the Champaner monuments, Rani-ki-Vav and Dholavira in Gujarat, the Hampi and Pattadakal monuments in Karnataka, and the Khajuraho western group, Sanchi Buddhist monuments, and Bhimbetka rock shelters in Madhya Pradesh.

The list also features the Ajanta and Ellora Caves, Elephanta, Shivneri Fort, Lohgad Fort, and Raigad Fort in Maharashtra, as well as Humayun's Tomb, the Qutub Archaeological Area, and the Red Fort in Delhi. Other Category A sites include the Konark Sun Temple in Odisha; the Chittorgarh and Kumbhalgarh forts in Rajasthan; the Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram in Tamil Nadu; and Agra Fort, the Taj group of monuments, and Fatehpur Sikri in Uttar Pradesh. The excavated Sarnath site and the Chaukhandi Stupa are also included.

Haryana's proposed Category B entries are Sheikh Chilli's Tomb at Thanesar in Kurukshetra, Surajkund Masonry Tank at Lakarpur in Faridabad, and Firoz Shah Palace & Tehkhana and Lat Ki Masjid Complex in Hisar. No Haryana monuments are included among the 30 Category A entries in the draft schedule. Punjab has two Category B monuments: Shamsher Khan's Tomb at Batala in Gurdaspur and the Sarai with Gateways at Nurmahal.

In Himachal Pradesh, Kangra Fort and the rock-cut temple with sculptures at Masrur, both in Kangra district, are listed in Category B.laced in Category B. Category B also includes the Group of Temples at Kiramchi, Ramnagar Palace, and the Group of Temples at Avantipura in Jammu and Kashmir. Leh Palace represents Ladakh in this category. Other prominent Category B monuments include Gwalior Fort, Shaniwar Wada, Aga Khan Palace, Golconda Fort, Warangal Fort, and Char Minar. Delhi's entries in this category are Safdarjung's Tomb, Purana Qila, Jantar Mantar, Tughlaqabad Fort, Feroz Shah Kotla, and Hauz Khas.

In Uttar Pradesh, Category B includes Kalinjar Fort, the Group of Monuments at Ram Bagh, Itimad-ud-Daula's Tomb, Mariyam's Tomb, Akbar's Tomb, Mehtab Bagh, Jhansi Fort, and Lucknow Residency, among others. Notably, the Centre has issued the draft rules under Section 38 of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958. Objections and suggestions may be submitted to the Director General, Archaeological Survey of India, Dharohar Bhawan, 24 Tilak Marg, New Delhi.