Swachh Paryatan app launched

Aiming at increasing citizens' participation in the protection and upkeep of heritage monuments in India, the Ministry of Tourism in co-ordination with Ministry of Culture has launched the Swachh Paryatan mobile app.

"Monuments are a reflection of our heritage. You can do your bit to keep them clean. Download the app and tell us if u spot a dirty patch" said Dr. Mahesh Sharma, Union Minister of State for Culture & Tourism (Independent Charge) & Minister of State for Civil Aviation while launching the mobile app.

Dr. Sharma urged people to take up responsibility to protect the precious heritage which has to be transferred to the next generation.

The mobile app presently can be used at 25 ‘Adarsh Smarak' or heritage structures such as the Taj Mahal, Qutub Minar , Sarnath, Humayun's Tomb, Red Fort and, Khajuraho among others.

Through this app the Tourism and Culture Ministries can now crowdsource their observation of these monuments, as the visitors are now provided with a platform to take pictures of any violations including littering and disfiguring of the structures.

According to a previous news report, the pictures taken by the visitors of any violation will be sent to a control room at the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) involved in monitoring and upkeep of these monuments.

The nodal officers will set upon fixing the problem and also revert to the visitor who has complained on the action taken.

As per the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, if someone destroys, removes, injures, alters, defaces, imperils or misuses a protected monument, he/she shall be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to three months, or with a fine which may extend to five thousand rupees, or with both.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched the Swachh Bharat Mission on 2nd October 2014, throughout length and breadth of the country as a national movement.

"A clean India would be the best tribute India could pay to Mahatma Gandhi on his 150 birth anniversary in 2019," said Shri Narendra Modi as he launched the Swachh Bharat Mission at Rajpath in New Delhi.