The Ministry of State for Culture and Tourism recently introduced an updated online No Objection Certificate (NOC) Application Processing System (NOPAS) for National Monuments Authority (NMA). This enhanced version of the system now extends its services to 517 local bodies across six additional states in India.
Expanded Reach of NOPAS
Originally limited to five urban local bodies in Delhi and one in Mumbai since its inception in September 2015, the NMA has broadened the reach of NOPAS. The revised web-based system now extends its facilities to the states of Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Jharkhand, and Telangana.
Purpose of the Online System
NOPAS is an automated, user-friendly system designed for granting NOCs for construction work in the prohibited and regulated zones around Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) protected monuments. It significantly streamlines the process, allowing applicants to request permissions for construction-related activities in these areas virtually.
The Role of National Monuments Authority(NMA)
NMA, a component of the Ministry of Culture, is an institution established as per the guidelines of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains AMASR (Amendment and Validation) Act, 2010. The core responsibility of NMA is to evaluate applications for construction-related activities in prohibited and regulated zones and grant permissions accordingly.
How does NOPAS work?
The applicant has to fill out a single form which will then be forwarded by the Urban Local Body to the relevant agencies for the required No Objection Certificate (NOC). The portal also integrates with Smart ‘Smarac’ Mobile App of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). This enables applicants to document and upload the geo-coordinates of their plot, along with images directly to the NIC portal. The proximity and approval status would also be updated in this process.
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Total ASI protected monuments | Over 3650 |
| NOPAS inception | September, 2015 |
| States added in next update | 6 (Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Jharkhand, Telangana) |
About ASI Protected Monuments
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), a premier organization under the Ministry of Culture, is committed to the protection and preservation of the nation’s cultural heritage. ASI safeguards monuments, sites, and remains of national importance under the provisions of the AMASR Act, 1958. This involves notifying a two-month window for raising any objections. The maintenance and conservation of these archaeological sites and monuments are undertaken by various ASI Circles spread across the country. ASI currently oversees more than 3650 ancient monuments and archaeological sites of national significance.