VELLORE: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Vellore sub-circle, has cautioned the Tamil Nadu Policing Housing Corporation (TNPHC) for its move to build a three-storied police station within the prohibited zone of a historical monument. Following the ASI’s warning, the work was stalled.
The police department, after the Government had allocated `70.50 lakh for a three-storied building to house the Vellore South Police Station, razed an 81-year-old structure opposite Vellore Fort in January to start building the proposed police station.
At present, the police attached to the station were working from the Armed Reserve Police Quarters at Kaspa. The old police station was built in 1934, said police sources.
However, ASI cautioned TNPHC engineers to stall the work and avoid legal action.
According to section 20 A (declaration of prohibited area and carrying out public works or other works in prohibited area) of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (Amendment and Validation) Act 2010, no work should be taken up within a 100 metre radius of a historical monument.
“The proposed police station falls within 100 metre radius of Vellore Fort, a protected historical monument. So, we called the executive engineer and junior engineer of TNPHC and told them to stop the work,” said an ASI official.
The TNPHC could approach the ASI’s Tamil Nadu authority in Chennai for further clarification and direction, the local ASI officials suggested. “If they continue the work, we will issue them a notice and initiate action against them,” the ASI official added.The Superintendent of Police, Vellore, P K Senthil Kumari, told Express, that police had not received any official communication from ASI. But the work was not done today (Wednesday). “If we receive any communication from ASI, we will approach the concerned officials through proper channel to obtain permission to resume the building work,” she added.
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