(a) whether the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has documented the number of monuments and historical sites that are prone to submergence in the low lying areas of river banks in the country and if so, the details thereof; and
(b) the conservation measures carried out to protect them when they emerge during droughts and when they submerge during monsoon?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR CULTURE AND
MINISTER OF STATE FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(DR. MAHESH SHARMA)
(a) As per the latest information collected from field offices of ASI out of 3686 monuments / sites, fourteen monuments / sites are found to be prone to submergence/submerged. The list is at Annexure.
(b) At present, two monuments of ASI in Assam, namely, (i) the rock known as Biswanath Sivalinga, Biswanath and (ii) the carvings, inscriptions and pillar on the Urbasi island, Kamarup, emerge when the river level of Brahmaputra recedes. The ASI carries out regular cleaning and conservation work of these monuments when water level recede.
ANNEXURE
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 425 FOR 5.2.2018
(i) LIST OF CENTRALLY PROETCTED MONUMENTS / SITES FOUND TO BE PRONE TO SUBMERGENCE
Sl. No. Name of Monument/Site State
1 Ananta Sayi Vishnu, Saranga Odisha
2 Kapilesvara Mahadeva Temple, Hatuary
3 Simhanatha Mahadeva Temple, Gopinathpur
4 Jagannath Temple, Jajpur
5 Varahanatha Temple, Jajpur
6 Asurgarh Fort, Kalahandi
7 Bhubaneswar Mahadev Temple, Balia
(ii) LIST OF CENTRALLY PROETCTED MONUMENTS / SITES SUBMERGED DUE TO CONSTRUCTION OF RESERVOIR/DAM
Sl. No. Name of Monument/Site State
1 Temples in five villages (Villages: Tangeda, Eliampeta, Ketavaram, Kolluru, Regulagadda) Andhra Padesh
2 Ratta Inscription in Narayandeva temple Karnataka
3 One Archaeological Site
4 Ancient Site Venivadar, Amreli Gujarat
5 Rock carving of Devi riding on a lion Jammu& Kashmir
6 Rock carving of Sitala, Narada, Brahma
7 Radha Krishna, Visveshwara and other caves temples