Clean world heritage sites today
Public will have unrestricted access to world heritage sites under the ambit of ASI
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2014-10-02 05:54 GMT
Chennai: For the first time the public will have unrestricted access to world heritage sites and other protected monuments under the ambit of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) across Tamil Nadu and can virtually be part of the local administration in cleaning the premises, thanks to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Clean India campaign).
The ASI has roped in the assistance of NSS and college students in the cleaning campaign. Also, the Chennai circle of ASI has arranged a massive awareness campaign at world heritage monuments of Mahabalipuram, Brihadeswara temple in Thanjavur, Airavateswara temple, Darasuram, and Brihadeswara temple, Gangaikonda Cholapuram, from 10 am to 5 pm as part of the Clean India campaign.
“Gandhi Jayanthi will also be an occasion to educate the public on preserving the monuments for posterity and refrain from defacement. Moreover, the officers and staff will take a pledge on the day to keep the environment clean and tidy,” says Ms G. Maheshwari, superintending archaeologist ASI, Chennai circle.
The ASI employees have been told to keep their workstations clean and also keep at least one rack spick and span on Thursday.Monuments constitute a vital resource embodying values and traditions and India is a grand repository of unique cultural and natural wealth of immense and exceptional value.
As one of the oldest civilisations and with a rich heritage of cultures, it becomes our bounden responsibility to protect and preserve what we have inherited, she said and added that the need of the hour was to generate awareness among the public to abstain from improper use of monuments.