NEW DELHI: There will soon be hope for unprotected monuments dotting the countryside that were earlier not on any list. With the promised National Mission for Antiquities and Monuments finally being launched on April 19, after being entangled in red tape for four long years, more ancient buildings will find space on the heritage map.

The Mission for Intangible Heritage, however, also announced by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee four years ago, is yet to take off.

The Mission for Antiquities and Monuments will operate under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and will bank heavily on networking with State Governments, non-government organisations and even universities.

"The Secretary Culture will be the chairperson while superintending archaeologist of the circles will be members. The ASI will train people. The Mission will be a little like the National Mission for Manuscripts (NMM) that has State level committees. They will then do the fieldwork. But ASI will release budgets,'' said ASI Director-General C. Babu Rajeev.

However, learning from the NMM experience that has run into trouble with its nodal agency -- the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) -- and with the situation turning ugly, the ASI is planning to have its role clearly defined so as to leave no loopholes.

While originally there were to be two separate Missions -- one for Monuments and the other for Antiquities -- they have now been clubbed into one. Looking at two diverse areas, experts point out that blending them into one may be diluting the mandate.

However, the Mission has at least taken a purposeful step in the direction, while ASI has so far been unable to make any headway, point out observers.

With over 3,000-odd monuments under its wing and limited manpower and resources being major restrictive factors, the ASI has its hands full. As such many significant buildings not on the list had been left to fend for themselves. But now this Mission is hoping to be able to then find ways to rescue such monuments.

"The Mission will evolve along the way,'' said an official in the Department of Culture.

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