New Delhi, Dec 2 (IANS) The Indian government is studying whether the movement of aircraft over the Qutub Minar is damaging the historic 14th minaret, the Lok Sabha was informed Wednesday.
In a written reply, Minister of State for Planning and Parliamentary Affairs V. Narayanasamy said that the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has expressed apprehensions of damage to the World Heritage monument from vibration impact of aeroplanes flying over it.

“A number of flights pass close to the Qutub Minar. The ASI has requested the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to look into the matter and take up environment impact study to assess the impact of the flights on the monument,” the minister said on a question that was posed for the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who also holds the culture ministry.

“As a follow up action, the DGCA has interacted with the engineering experts of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) and other research institutes,” Narayanasamy added.

“A project is being designed by the ministry of civil aviation or the DGCA to evaluate the vibration level prevailing on the structure of Qutub Minar due to flight movements. Based upon its outcome, corrective measures, if any, would be taken,” he added.

Narayanasamy said no monument in the country was threatened so far by sound waves.