By IANS,
Agra : The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has asked for immediately stopping construction of a bridge on the river Yamuna here as it is quite close to a Mughal era monument.
Superintending Archaeologist A.R. Siddiqui told IANS: “We have asked the Uttar Pradesh State Bridge Corporation Limited to stop construction and seek clearance from ASI headquarters in New Delhi.”
This, he said, had been done as new rules have come into force, according to which construction within 300 metres of a protected monument is regulated and can be continued after a green signal from the ASI headquarters.
The monument in question is Etmauddaula, built by Noor Jahan, the favourite wife of Mughal emperor Jahangir, as a mausoleum for her father Mirza Giyas Beg.
The bridge on the river Yamuna was slated to be completed before the Commonwealth Games in October. More than half the work is already over, according to the site workers and engineers.
Braj Mandal Heritage Conservation Society president Surendra Sharma welcomed the ASI initiative, saying it was “long overdue”.
“They should not have, in the first place, allowed construction so close, hardly 200 metres from the Etmauddaula. They had misled the officials. Even the local ASI officials goofed up and ignored the protests from conservationists,” he said.
The controversial bridge is not likely to be completed now as the ASI headquarter is firm on following its latest norms.
“Especially after the Taj Heritage Corridor controversy, the ASI has become particularly sensitive to these issues,” an official said.
Local conservationists were particularly angry as the new bridge suddenly turned right in violation of the original design submitted.
“This would have obstructed the view of the beautiful Mughal building Etmauddaula that is older than the Taj Mahal,” said Ravi Singh, a conservationist.
“There have been gross violations of heritage conservation guidelines and every time the ASI reacted late. This time too the ASI has woken up late after more than half the bridge is complete,” hotelier Sandip Arora said.