Lok Sabha Question No. 4317 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-27
Subject: Improvement of Greenery in Taj Heritage Corridor
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Rajkumar Chahar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4317

ANSWERED ON 27.03.2023

## IMPROVEMENT OF GREENERY IN TAJ HERITAGE CORRIDOR

## 4317. SHRI RAJ KUMAR CHAHAR:

Will the MINISTER OF CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware that the present status of greenery in Site-A of the Taj Heritage Corridor opposite Agra Fort in Agra is not up to the mark;
- (b) the  details  of  the  initiatives  taken  by  the  ASI  for  improvement  of  greenery  of  Taj Heritage Corridor Site-A and the amount spent thereupon during the last five years with a year-wise breakup;
- (c) whether the Government has any policy to permit cultural shows on the above Heritage Corridor Site to promote the culture of the country;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether the Government proposes to frame a policy on it?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF CULTURE, TOURISM AND DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION

## (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

- (a) Sir,  the  land  area  measuring  20  Hectare  falls  in  Site-A  of  the  Taj  Heritage  Corridor  is given to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) for development of garden. In Phase I, 10 Hectare of land have been identified, out of which approx. 60% area has already been developed into a proper garden in planned manner and the same is maintained in good condition.
- (b) Regular manpower is deployed for routine maintenance of the garden and it has been fenced to protect the garden. The expenditure incurred for the routine maintenance and upkeep of the garden during the last five years is as follows:
- (c) Taj  Heritage  Corridor  is  not  in  the  list  of  identified  locations  for  organizing  cultural
- to events.  Guidelines  along  with  list  of  monuments  for  organizing  cultural  events  in  the
- (e) protected area are already in vogue. (Annexure-I )

| Financial Year               | 2017-18            |   2018-19 |   2019-20 |   2020-21 |   2021-22 |
|------------------------------|--------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
| Expenditure incurred (crore) | 0.25 (for fencing) |      0.41 |      0.79 |      0.17 |      0.28 |

## ANNEXURE REFFERED TO IN REPLY OF PART (c-e) OF THE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4317 FOR 27.03.2023

## Guidelines

The issue relating to usage of specific areas of protected monuments / sites for holding cultural  events  has  been  resolved  and  the  competent  authority  has  approved  the  following guidelines for usage of protected areas.

1. As a matter of course, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) will not like to permit the use of monuments and land attached to such monuments for holding functions/events. The circles may, however, permit such use only as an exception if the DG, ASI / SA, Circle  is  fully  satisfied  that  the  function/event  is  unlikely  to  cause  any  damage, whatsoever, to the monument, its land and other built structures standing thereon.
2. The circles would accord permission in only those monuments, which are identified for holding cultural events. They will also delineate the area / parts of the monument where such events can be held.
3. The  DG,  ASI  /  SA,  circle  may  refuse  permission  to  hold  functions  in  the  identified monuments/sites in case ASI had undertaken recent renovation / beautification works and the holding of such event may interfere with the work/ damage the renovations.
4. If a monument is not listed for allowing the holding of cultural events, the DG, ASI may grant such permissions after calling for a report from the concerned SA. The DG, ASI however reserves the right to disallow any such request. His decision will be final.
5. Permission  can  be  granted  for  holding  cultural  events  of  a  high  standard,  preferably classical. For this purpose, cultural events would mean classical music, dance and drama. In deciding whether an event is a cultural event or not, the decision of the DG, ASI would be final.
6. No permission would be granted for any function event where the admission is regulated by sale of tickets or by levy of admission charges.
7. No permission would be granted for any event which involves any commercial / religious activity like sales, exhibition-cum-sales etc.
8. Permission for holding functions would be granted only to Government departments and public bodies. No permission would be granted to private individuals, private bodies or other commercial organizations. In deciding whether the requests for holding a function is  from  a  public  body  or  not,  the  decision  of  the  DG,  ASI  would  be  final.  While considering the requests from public bodies, the DG, ASI / SA, Circle would consider the previous  history  and  activities  of  the  organization  the  purpose  for  which  the  event  is being held and the nature and duration of the cultural event.
9. Permission issued will be valid only for one day except in exceptional cases where for reasons  to  be  recorded,  such  permissions  may  extend  to  more  than  one  day.  All temporary structures must be constructed and removed within the same day by 11 PM. All  function  must  conclude  by  10  PM.  No  music  or  loudspeaker  etc.  will  be  allowed thereafter. Any violation will lead to a police complaint by ASI officials.
10. No construction activity of any type will be permitted except for putting up a temporary rostrum  or  stage,  which  can  be  moved  away.  In  putting  up  such  temporary  structures there will be no masonry activity.
11. As  the  conduct  of  the  event  within  the  monuments  or  its  precincts  is  likely  to  cause damage  to  the  built  infrastructure  and  its  environs,  the  ASI  would  levy  the  following charges for usage:
- a. For conducting an event in the land attached (outside) to a protected monument Rs. 25000/- per day and where a part of the built monuments (inside) is also likely to be used along with the land Rs. 50000/- per day would be charged. (in select monuments at Delhi).
- b. In other circles for conducting cultural event, Rs. 10000/- would be charged per day  (for  one  day  only)  for  using  the  area  attached  (outside)  to  a  protected monument and where a part of the protected monuments is also likely to be used, Rs. 25000/- per day would be charged.

D.G., ASI may decide if other differential needed.

In  addition  to  the  above,  ASI  would  also  demand  a  refundable  security  deposit  of  Rs. 50000/-  per  day  in  all  monuments  in  Delhi.  In  other  circles,  this  refundable  security deposit would be Rs. 30,000/-. This security deposit would be refunded within a week after the function after deducting expenditure, if any, that the ASI has incurred in clearing the area of litter/garbage etc. or in repairing damages, if any.

The ASI would be free to impose appropriate conditions on various aspects like parking, maximum number of visitors, noise and luminous levels etc. to ensure that the monument and its environs are protected and preserved and the conduct of the event would not cause any damage to the monument (physically) or its cultural integrity.

A list of monuments where cultural events could be permitted is at Annexure - I. This list is not exhaustive and the A.S.I. may amend this list as and when required.

The above guidelines will come into immediate effect and will remain valid until further orders.

## AGRA CIRCLE

1. Ram Bagh
2. Akbar's Tomb (outside)
3. Diwan-i-Aum (Agra Fort)
4. Kankali tila, Mathura
5. Open Area ouside Bashahi Gate, Fatehpur Sikri

## AURANGABAD CIRCLE

1. Lawns ouside Bibi-ka-Maqbara, Aurangabad
2. Open Area in front of Rock-cut Caves, Ellora
3. Open Area Fort, Daulatabad

## BANGALORE CIRCLE

1. Open Area east of Keshava Temple, Somnathpur
2. Open Area Hoysaleshwara Temple, Halebidu
3. Open Couryard, ChennaKeshva Temple, Belur
4. Open Area and Cloistered Court of Bahubalis Statue, Shravana Belgola
5. Open Area surrounding the Bahubali Statue, Karkala
6. Open Area, Chitradurga Fort
7. Open lawns, Tipu's Palace, Bangalore
8. Open Area surrounding Tipu's Tomb, Srirangapatna
9. Open Area - Daulatabad Bagh Palace, Srirangapatna
10. Shri Harihareshwara Temple, Harihara
11. Ishwara Temple, Arasikere
12. Fort Devanahalli
13. Someshwara Temple, Kolar
14. Open Area of Group of Temples, Nandi
15. Anantapadmanabha Temple complex, Karkala

## BHOPAL CIRCLE

1. North of Chitragupta Temple, Khajuraho
2. Tansen tomb, Gwalior
3. Open Area around Sas Bahu Temple, Gwalior
4. Open Area to the west of Siva Temple, Bhojpur
5. Open Area near Jahaz Mahal, Mandu

## BHUBANESWAR CIRCLE

1. Open Area around Raja Rani Temple, Bhubaneswar
2. Open Area, Mukteshwar Temple
3. Open Area, Parashurameshwar Temple
4. Open Area, Sun Temple, Konarak
5. Open Area, SitaBhanji
6. Open Area, Haripurgarh
7. Site at Ratnagiri

## LIST OF MONUMENTS/SITES WHERE CULTURAL

## EVENTS COULD BE PERMITTED

## CHANDIGARH CIRCLE

1. Open Area surrounding Jal Mahal, Narnaul
2. Open Area, Dakhni Sarai
3. Open Area, Fort at Bhatinda

## CHENNAI CIRLCE

1. Brihadishwara Temple, Thanjavur
2. Brihadishwara Temple, Gangaikonda Cholapuram
3. Airavateshwara Temple, Darasuram
4. Group of Temples, Rock-cut Caves, Mahabalipuram
5. Open area near Group of Temples, MoovarKoil
6. Fort Area, Sadras.

## DELHI CIRCLE

1. Arab ki Sarai (Humayun's Tomb Complex)
2. Outer lawn Isa Khan's Tomb (Humayun's Tomb Complex)
3. Jahaj Mahal
4. Roshanara Garden
5. Open Area, Qutub Minar Complex
6. Lawn and Outer Open Area, Purana Quila
7. Open Area, Quila Rai Pithora
8. Open Area, Red Fort (area of ram Lila and inside)

## DEHRADUN CIRCLE

1. Rudranath Temple Complex, Gopeshwar, Distt. Chamoli

## DHARWAR CIRCLE

1. Open Area, Durga Temple Complex, Aihole
2. Open Area, Jyotirling Group of Temples, Aihole
3. Open Area north of Group of Temples, Pattadakal
4. Open Area between Group of Temples, Ashtur
5. Open Area within the Fort Gulbarga
6. Open AreaMahmud GawansMadarsa, Bidar
7. Open Area surrounding GolGumbaz, Bijapur
8. Lawns of ImbrahimRauza, Bijapur
9. Open Area, Navaraspur
10. Open Area Group of Monuments, Lakkundi
11. Open Area around Mahadevi Temple, Ittagi
12. Open Area towards west of Siddeshwara Temple, Haveri
13. Madhukeshwara Temple Complex, Banavasi
14. Mukteshwara Temple, Chandadanpur
15. Open Area Fort, Souda

## GOA CIRCLE

1. Open Area within the Fort, Aguada
2. Mahadev Temple Complex, Tambdi Surla
3. Open Area Safa masjid, Ponda

## GUWAHATI CIRCLE

NIL

## HAMPI MINI CIRCLE

1. Open Area Elephant Stable, Hampi
2. Open Area Vithala Temple Complex, Hampi
3. Fort, Bellary, Hampi 4. Open Area around Monuments, Hampi

## HYDERABAD CIRCLE

1. Area within Golkonda Fort
2. Siddhout Fort, Cuddapah
3. Sankaram, Vishakhapatanam
4. Ramappa Temple, Palampet
5. Area within the Fort, Warangal
6. Open Area around transplanted monuments at Nagarjunkonda and Anupa (during day only)
7. Open Area surrounding Amaravati Stupa Site

## JAIPUR CIRCLE

1. Ancient site at Bhangarh
2. Deeg Palace, Deeg, Dist. Bharatpur
3. Fort, Bayana
4. Group of Temples, Bijolia 5. Fort, Ranthambore

## JODHPUR CIRCLE

1. Anna Sagar Baradari, Ajmer
2. Mahanal Temple, Menal
3. Fort, Chittaurgarh,
4. Fort, Kumbalgarh,
5. Archaeological Site, Ludrava
6. Ghat/Jahangiri Mahal, Pushkar
7. Group of Temples, Badoli
8. Fort, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur

## KOLKATA CIRCLE

1. Open Area in front of Cooch Behar Palace
2. Open Area surrounding Bishnupur Group of Temples, Bishnapur

## LEH MINI CIRCLE

NIL

## LUCKNOW CIRCLE

1. Residency Lawns, Lucknow
2. Open Area Fort, Jhansi
3. Dilkusha Palace

## MUMBAI CIRCLE

1. Open Area, Elephanta
2. Fort Raigarh
3. Palace Complex Shaniwarvada, Pune

## NAGPUR CIRCLE

NIL

## PATNA CIRCLE

1. Archaeological Site, Nalanda
2. Open Area Sher Shah Tomb, Sasaram

## RAIPUR CIRCLE

1.Group of Monuments, Sirpur

## RANCHI CIRCLE

NIL

## SARNATH CIRCLE

1. Archaeological Site, Sarnath

## SHIMLA CIRCLE

1. Open area Vice Regal Lodge, Shimla.
2. Open area, Kangra Fort, Kangra
3. Open Area, Fort at Nurpur (now in Shimla Circle)

## SRI NAGAR CIRLE

1. Palace Ramnagar
2. Open Area of the Fort, Ramnagar

## THRISSUR CIRCLE

1. Open Area within the Fort, Bekal
2. Area within Fort St. Angelo, Kannur
3. Fort at Pakkad

## VADODARA CIRCLE

1. Open Area/Garden around Sun Temple, Modhera
2. Open Area within the Citadel, Pavagarh
3. Fort, Diu
4. Fort Area, Moti Daman
5. Fort Area, Nani Daman
6. Area around Step Well, Patan