Union Culture and Tourism Minister G Kishan Reddy inaugurated a photo exhibition on “Monuments of Victory & Valour” at National Monuments Authority in New Delhi.

National Monuments Authority

• The National Monuments Authority (NMA) was established in 2011 as a statutory body constituted under the provisions of Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (Amendment & Validation) Act, 2010. It is also known as the AMASR Act.

• The basic objective for setting up of NMA is implementation of the statutory provisions of prohibited and regulated areas of centrally protected monuments for the purpose of construction, repair/renovation of buildings and public projects. 

• There are 3,691 centrally protected monuments/sites in India. Uttar Pradesh tops the list with 745 monuments and sites, followed by Karnataka at 506 and Tamil Nadu at 413.

• With increase of urbanisation, development, growth and increasing population pressure, there is growing pressure on land, including the land around centrally protected monuments. As this often affects the monument/site adversely, it is important that such growth around the centrally protected monuments is properly regulated, balancing the needs of individuals and growth and development on the one hand and the requirements of preservation and protection of these monuments on the other.

• Several functions have been assigned to the NMA for the protection and preservation of monuments and sites through management of the prohibited and regulated area around the centrally protected monuments.

• NMA has been mandated to frame monuments specific heritage bye-laws to regulate construction activities around the centrally protected monuments. 

• It has also been given the responsibility of classification and gradation of monuments in consultation with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

• The Act provides for NMA to be constituted with a chairperson and up to five whole time and five part time members each and a member secretary.

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