New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
Monday said it is the obligation of the people to preserve and protect Delhi which is rapidly transforming into a modern metropolis.
"It is rightly said that the city of Delhi is a living
museum. We have the obligation to preserve, protect, study and
document the rich legacy of one of the great cities of the
world," he said releasing a book on "Monuments of Delhi".
The book, brought out by the Archaeological Survey of
India (ASI) on the occasion of Commonwealth Games, would be of
use not only to the visitors coming here shortly but to its
residents as well, he said.
"Delhi is rapidly transforming into a modern metropolis
and the skyline is constantly undergoing change. But we should
not forget that Delhi is among the most historic cities in the
world," he said.
Singh said that the Ministry of Culture was working to
revitalise the ASI so that it became an institution of
excellence that could manage the historical treasures in a
professional and imaginative manner.
He said out of 174 monuments that are maintained by the
ASI in the national capital, this book focuses on 46 monuments
that are located within the core area of the Commonwealth
Games.
The Prime Minister said that there should be more
efforts such as the publication of Monuments of Delhi that
stimulate public interest in the monuments and in the work of
the ASI as well.
PTI
