ASI rules make life miserable for residents

Most of the historically important places and monuments in the country are protected under the Provision of Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act 1959. But sometimes the rules framed by government agencies become disaster for the people living in the surrounding areas of the historically important places.

Normally, the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) takes care of the monuments. In some cases these rules are disaster and Eyyal is one such village bearing the brunt of the ASI rules as people here cannot repair and build new homes.

Unlike other states where most of the historical places are located in desolate areas, almost all the places of historical importance in Kerala are located near crowded places.

Eyyal, is famous for the remnants of a stone age. The megalithic site at Eyyal is located south of Cheramangad on the Kunnamkulam-Vadakkancheri road in Thrissur district of Kerala. This is a double-chamber megalithic burial cave. Roman coins of the Republican period, datable to first century A.D, were unearthed near the site, according to ASI officials. As per the rule, any activity like digging and building within 100 metre radius and a regulation within 300 metre radius distance is prohibited.

“There are at least 50 houses built with mud and unbaked bricks, around 50 years ago, which are almost in a ruined state with cracked walls and shaken foundations,'' Kadangodu panchayath member Jessy Wilson told TSI.

He further said, “People cannot repair their homes (shelter) because of the ASI rules. Almost all the houses nearby in a radius of 300 metres face this problem. They cannot construct good roads because there are marks of ASI which indicates that there could be something which is valuable to ancient Indian history. Local people suffering from draught cannot dig a well or build a septic tank.”

“This is a serious matter, the ASI rules blocking the local youngster’s basic rights of getting married,” says R. Ratheesh. “Parents are not ready to send their daughters as bride to these houses because of this situation. People who get ancestral property share are a worried lot because they cannot build a new home. The old homes--not a home in modern concept-- don’t have enough space to accommodate all the family members. This is a serious social issue,” he adds.

There are eight other ASI-protected monuments in the district which are facing similar situation. Chovanur, Eyyal, Kattakkampal, Kantanasseri, Kakkad, Cheramangad, Kadavallur and Chammanthitta are places of historical importance.

The affected people have formed a Mathruka Residential Association (MRA), but there has been no positive results so far. The village Panchayat has officially appealed to Kerala Chief Minister to intervene and local MP has assured them that he would raise the issue in Parliament. The MRA has taken initiative to bring all other affected people under one umbrella.

The anger is palpable in the form of boards hanging near the Eyyal cave. "The authorities are forcing us to take extreme steps, but we are trying to restrain ourselves,’' said an angry young boy.