Shyamhari Chakra
Much to the cheer of the heritage lovers, the Ministry of Culture has announced creation of seven new Circles of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) across six states.
The new additions include Hampi, Trichy, Raiganj, Rajkot, Jabalpur, Jhansi and Meerut in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, West Bengal and Gujarat.
With the addition, the country would have 36 Circles of ASI.
“The Ministry of Culture has taken this step in accordance with the Prime Minister’s call to facilitate and strengthen the process of preservation and registration of archaeological monuments along with registration of artefacts with self-declaration,” stated the Minister for Tourism and Culture Mr. Prahlad Singh Patel.
Of the seven new Circles, Hampi in Karnataka has been upgraded to a full-fledged circle from its status of mini-circle, the Ministry has mentioned.
In addition to its Chennai Circle, Tamil Nadu has got a new Circle at Trichy. “In a large state like Tamil Nadu that has thousands of temples and glorious memories of the Chola Kings, Trichy has been made a new circle along with the circle of Chennai”, the Minister has maintained.
Similarly, Karnataka state would have two circles of ASI. “Hampi city in Karnataka is a place of international importance from the point of view of archaeological heritage. Therefore, the Hampi sub-circle was converted to a new and full-fledged circle”, the Ministry has added.
West Bengal would also have two circles with Raiganj getting a new circle along with Kolkata. “This would eliminate geographical inconvenience in a big state like West Bengal,” the Ministry has explained.
In Gujarat, Rajkot has been announced as a new circle; thereby the state having its second circle along with Vadodara.
Similarly, Jabalpur has been announced a new circle along with Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh. The new circle would include the monuments from Jabalpur, Rewa, Shahdol and Sagar divisions.
With two new additions, Uttar Pradesh tops the table with four circles of ASI. Jhansi and Meerut have been added to the existing circles at Agra and Lucknow.
