CONTEMPORARY EURASIA VOLUME VI (1) Contemporary-Eurasia-VI-1-engl | Page 87

CONTEMPORARY EURASIA VI (1)
still in use for the purpose for which they were originally designed at
the time of notification of the monument. This implied that any
activity, such as worship, which was subsequently introduced in a
monument, but was not being carried out at the time of notification,
would be deemed as unauthorised.
It was found that in many monuments such unauthorised activities
were being carried out. The ASI replied (May 2012) that presently 955
monuments were being used for worship and prayers 51 . However, the
ASI did not have the details of monuments where prayers/worships
were being held prior to issue of notification. It was also found that in
many monuments electrical points, loudspeakers, fans, etc. were also
installed by unauthorised persons to facilitate these activities. Some
examples were Ancient Mosque, Palam and The Mosque, Qudsia
Garden in Delhi Circle. The ASI, thus, failed to protect the monuments
of national importance by not restricting the unauthorised activities
being held there 52 .
The ASI did not have an updated and approved Conservation
Policy to meet its requirements of preservation and conservation.
There were no compiled instructions for the Circles. The ASI stated
that it was following the conservation manual of Sir John Marshall,
which was published in 1923. Besides, ASI was also following the
Manual of Archaeological Survey of India, published in 1984, and
Archaeological Works Code which were more than 30 year old. In the
absence of a comprehensive conservation policy, the performance
evaluation of these agencies was found highly subjective. The process
of revising the Manual and Works Code which had started in August
2011 did not yield any result till December 2012 53 .
The Circle offices were responsible for carrying out the works for
preservation and conservation of the monuments. As per the ASI
Works Code, the Superintending Archaeologist of the Circle was
responsible for reporting any irregularity during the execution of the
51
Report of CAG on Performance Audit of Preservation and C