ASI at loggerheads with Madhya Pradesh over flying choppers on heritage sites

BHOPAL: Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has locked horns with the Madhya Pradesh government over flying choppers over two of its two most protected world heritage sites -- Khajuraho's western group temples and SanchiStupa of Raisen.
The flying was being done for aerial photography of these sites for state governments 2015 calendar.
Apart from submitting two separate complaints with Chhatarpur and Raisen district police, ASI has also sent a communique to the Airport Authority of India (AAI) complaining chopper's sortie over the "no-fly zone".
When contacted Chhatarpur Additional Superintendent of police (ASP) Neeraj Pandey confirmed about ASI's complaint and said a senior police officer has been asked to investigate and submit a detailed report.
Flying over Sanchi stupa was recorded on November 15 while on November 16 it was spotted hovering over Khajuraho.
"It was not a pleasure trip. Now that the matter has been brought to our notice we are examining the law and ensure that it does not happen again. We are yet to ascertain if they were flying too low or in a prohibited zone," said S K Mishra, commissioner, state's public relation office.
Mishra confirmed that the chopper was used for shooting pictures for state's upcoming calendar.
ASI had been nervous for long over the rattling of Khajuraho monuments when planes land in the city. They had petitioned AAI to change the direction of planes landing and taking off in the area by cutting a hill at the end of the runway so that they don't get too close to the structures.
In 2006 the then Culture Ministry has requested civil aviation department to ensure that aircrafts were not permitted to fly over these temples pointing out that they were subjected to vibration every time aircrafts fly over it or close by.
State's chopper had also led Raisen police and residents in tizzy as it was flying to low over the Sanchi Stupa, said sources.
Security cover around this UNESCO world heritage was increased after MPATS got to know that Ranchi module of Indian Mujahedeen (IM) which allegedly executed the Patna and Bodh Gaya blasts had plans to blow up the Sanchi Stupa.
IM operative Imtiaz Ansari, nabbed form a terror hideout in Ranchi had told interrogators about the bombing plan. Also, a map recovered from the IM agents arrested from Raipur show Sanchi stupa as a terror target. The Sanchi plot was part of IM's terror blueprint to bomb Buddhist sites across India to avenge alleged atrocities on Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar
Sanchi Stupa is the oldest stone structure in India, originally commissioned by emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BC. Sanchi comprises a group of Buddhist monuments, monolithic pillars, palaces, temples and monasteries.