The Ministry for Culture and Tourism has launched the National Monuments Authority (NMA)’s web portal called “NOC Online Application and Processing System (NOAPS)”. The move is in line with the “e-Governance” and “Ease of Doing Business” projects of Prime Minister.
The NMA portal, launched by Minister of State (I/C) for Culture and Tourism Dr Mahesh Sharma in New Delhi April 26, uses the technology and expertise of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), who are in the process of mapping of 3,686 ASI protected monuments and sites.
They have developed a user-friendly mobile app, which can be downloaded free of cost by an applicant and can be used to upload the geo coordinates of his plot falling within the prohibited/regulated area of the monument.
One of the tasks mandated to NMA is to consider the impact of large scale development projects, including public projects proposed in the regulated area; to make recommendations to the Competent Authority for grant of NOC for construction of residential/commercial building in the regulated area of Centrally Protected Monuments/Sites.
The web portal of NMA has now been integrated with the online portal of local bodies of Delhi and Mumbai viz NDMC, Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) and MCDs (South MCD, North MCD, East MCD), to facilitate single window clearance for construction on a common application form.
The applicant need to fill up a single form which will be sent to the concerned agencies by the local body, from whom No Objection Certificate (NOC) is required. NMA on its part will communicate its decision to the local body within six working day, bringing down the time limit from ninety days, as prescribed in Ancient Monuments and Archeological Sites and Remains (AMASR) Act.
Now with this new development, the applicant is not required to visit NMA in connection with his/her application but can track the progress of the application online. However, large projects involving construction of building beyond 2000 sq mt have been kept out of the purview of Single Window Clearance System, keeping in view their possible impact on the monument or the site.