End Of ASI's Monopoly: Govt Plans To Consider Private Players For Conservation Of Protected Monuments
New Delhi: The Union Government is planning to open up conservation of India’s protected monuments to the private players, corporates, public sector undertakings and even private organisations, Indian Express reports, citing official sources. The move is reported to be aiming at building a public-private-partnership model in heritage conservation, leading to capacity building and also fast-tracking of conservation projects.
So far, only the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is the protector and conservator of the historic monuments in the country. When private players are let in, they will be able to directly hire external agencies to undertake required conservation work at protected monuments such as forts, baolis, and other heritage spaces across the country.
Functioning under the aegis of the Ministry of Culture, ASI has been solely conducting the core conservation work of as many as approximately 3,700 protected monuments across the country.
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