PM hails ASI'S contribution in preserving country's heritage sites

New Delhi, Dec 20 (ANI): The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, on Tuesday hailed the contribution of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) for preserving the precious legacy of the country.

This historic institution has made an outstanding contribution to revealing our country's rich historical and cultural heritage and protecting. I pay tribute to the dedicated conservators, who have over the generations preserved this precious legacy of ours and indeed of all human kind," said Dr. Singh on the sidelines of the 150th Anniversary Celebrations of Archaeological Survey of India.

The Prime Minister said that the ASI has evolved over the years, upgrading its standards and has succeeded in living up to its mandate of exploring, excavating, conserving, preserving and protecting the monuments and sites of national and international importance.

"The Archaeological Survey of India has over the years developed high capabilities in explorations, excavation, conservation, and environmental upgradation and research and publication. Yet, archaeology today more than ever before is expanding its frontiers, both in terms of its philosophy and in terms of its methodology," said Dr. Singh.

Asserting that urbanisation and rising population are proving to be thorns in the preservation of heritage, Dr. Singh said: "The pressure of urbanisation and population growth is now threatening our historic monuments everywhere in the country. Unless we react quickly to improve the manner in which we look after these treasures, we will have to answer to the future generations."

"This is a great national enterprise in which different arms of the government should partner with civil society and local communities," he added.

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) was founded in 1861 under British colonial administration by Sir Alexander Cunningham with the help of the then Viceroy Charles John Canning.

The ASI, which is attached to the Ministry of Culture, is responsible for archaeological studies and the preservation of archaeological heritage of the country in accordance with the various acts of the Indian Parliament. (ANI)