31 August : Architectural delights in the national capital will get a facelift before Commonwealth Games with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) deciding to deploy special teams to carry out their "chemical treatment".
Keeping in mind the rush of tourists during the 2010 sporting extravaganza, the ASI has proposed an amount of Rs 90 lakh for chemical treatment of historical monuments in and around Delhi.
This is in addition to proposals for their structural preservation."There is a request from ASI’s Delhi circle for more technical experts to help in chemical preservation of the sites," ASI Director (Science) R S Rana told a news agency in New Delhi.
"To cope with the extra pressure and time constraint in view of the approaching Commonwealth Games, we will send additional workforce to help the Delhi Circle team," Rana said.
Explaining the nature of work involved in chemical preservation, Rana said first of all experts ascertain the kind of stones used in monuments and specific chemicals required to give a proper treatment to them.
Considering the fact that a single monument could be made of different kind of stones, the specifications of chemicals to be used for different parts become very crucial, making the entire process a bit difficult, he said.
"The real challenge which our experts will face is to plan the necessary measures of conservation, without altering or modifying in any way the authenticity of the original character of monuments," Rana said.That is why we have sought more technical people, he added.
The science branch of ASI, entrusted with scientific research activities like studies of material deterioration of archaeological sites and diagnostic technologies, is primarily responsible for suggesting and helping in the preservation of the protected monuments in the country.
The branch, which has its headquarters in Dehradun, is responsible for chemical treatment and preservation of about 5,000 centrally protected monuments, including 18 world heritage monuments, besides chemical preservation of museum artifacts and excavated objects.
It also gives technical assistance in preservation of state protected monuments. DDINEWS