Centre asks states to extend range of polythene ban

In an unprecedented move, the Central Government has declared all ASI Protected Historical Monuments and Archaeological Sites as ‘Polythene Free Zones’. An advisory has been issued to all state governments and UTs to support ASI in keeping Monuments Polythene Free up to 300 meters from the protected boundaries of the Monuments informed Union Tourism Minister Dr. Mahesh Sharma.

While briefing the media on the various initiatives taken by his ministry during Swachhata Pakhwada Sharma added, “Ministry of Culture has sanctioned Rs 350 crores to provide facilities like Protected Boundaries, Toilets and Disabled Friendly Access in all ASI Protected Monuments. Work has been awarded to PSUs like WAPCOS and TCIL. They have been directed to complete the work in the current financial year 2016-17.”

Tourism Minister added that ASI has ranked top 25 Adarsh Monuments on the basis of Cleanliness parameters such as amenities like toilets, green lawns, Polythene Free Zone, signage for awareness, disabilities access, drinking water and provision for garbage bins etc. “Rani ki Vav (Gujarat)” a World Heritage Site has been declared as the cleanest iconic place in the country.

Dr Sharma further stated that 75 more Adarsh Monuments protected by ASI have been identified to be included in the ‘Swachh Paryatan Mobile App’ launched by the Ministry of Tourism. With this a total of 100 Adarsh Monuments protected by ASI will be included in the ‘Swachh Paryatan Mobile App’. 

“Since the general public and the tourists are the largest stakeholders in keeping the monuments clean, the Ministry of Tourism has decided to facilitate the general public to communicate their complaints about any unclean area, garbage piles in and around tourist destinations.

This useful mobile App enables a citizen to take photograph of garbage at the monument and upload the same along with his/her remarks. The application then sends an SMS to the ASI Nodal Officer concerned with the monument upon receipt of which the Nodal Officer gets the garbage cleared or removed,” added Sharma.