A SUDDEN STOP | AGRA NEWS

28\06\2010 AGRA NEWS
How committed government agencies are towards heritage consevation and upkeep of histrorical buildings, became clear when two years ago, when brushing aside all objections, the state government cleared a new bridge on Yamuna in Agra ,close to the century-old Strachey Bridge which is due for extensive repairs. Nobody was consulted, nor an environmental hearing conducted as per rules.
And now suddenly the Rip Van Winkles in the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) have woken up. The UP state Bridge corporation has been asked to stop further work on the controversial bridge. The ASI has stopped work on a new bridge across the Yamuna as it is very close to a Mughal-era monument.
Superintending archaelolgist AR Sidduqui said," We asked the Uttar Pradesh state Bridge Corpotion Ltd to stop construction and seek clearance from ASI headquarters in New Delhi." New rules in force mandate that any construction within 300 metres of a protected monument could be done only with approval from the ASI headquarters .
The monument in question is Etmauddaula, built by Noor jahan, the favourite wife of Mughal emperor jehangir, as a mausoleum for her father Mirza Giyas Beg. The bridge was due to be completed before the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi in October. It is now unlikely to be completed as the ASI headquarters is standing firm on enforcing the new norms .
Site workers and engineers said over half the work is already done. Conservationists in Agra are happy, calling the ASI's action 'long overdue'.