Monorail project runs into monument hurdle in Parel

The Archaeological Survey of India has issued a stop-work notice to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority Jacob Circle-Wadala-Chembur monorail corridor project as it passes close to the ancient Monolithic bas relief of Siva in Parel village.

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has issued a stop-work notice to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA)s Jacob Circle-Wadala-Chembur monorail corridor project as it passes close to the ancient Monolithic bas relief of Siva in Parel village. The notice was issued under provisions of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (Amendment and Validation) Act,2010,which prohibits construction work within 300 metres of monuments.

The Mumbai circle of ASI has also issued a stop-work notice to a private builder who has been constructing a high-rise in the area. According to the Act,no construction should be allowed within 300 metres of ancient monuments. The Parel Siva statue,which dates back to the 7th Century,was discovered when roads were being laid between Parel and Sewree in 1935. The locals then shifted it to its current location,Baradevi Mandir,which has been protected by the ASI since 1985.

A senior official of the ASI said: We are in the process of issuing stop-work notices. Since the Act was implementation in the last couple of months,we have issued two stop-work notices,incl uding one to a government agency. Both have approached us seeking appropriate permission.

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We have received the notice and accordingly have moved the necessary authorities seeking clearances. But our application is still pending. However,we have not yet stopped the construction work, said Monorail director Vishnu Kumar.

Most of the monuments in the suburbs are protected in some way or the other. However,only the Siva statue in Parel and the Sion Fort are affected by construction work and this will be looked into, said the ASI official. According to the Act,the first 100 metres around a monument is prohibited area where no mining or construction can take place. The next 200 metres is regulated area subject to permission from an officer not less than the Director of the State Archeological Department or of the post of a joint secretary and also of the National Monument Committee. This post,however,is lying vacant in the state.

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