Question : ENCROACHMENT AT PROTECTED MONUMENTS

(a) the details of historical / protected monuments/heritage sites / structures in the country under illegal occupation / encroachment and the number of complaints received / cases registered in the matter along with the action taken thereon and the existing mechanism to keep such monuments free from illegal occupation/encroachment during each of the last three years and the current year, monument and State/UT-wise;

(b) the progress achieved by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in removing encroachments within the premises of protected monuments;

(c) whether the Government has taken any steps for rehabilitation of the encroachers;

(d) if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the other remedial steps proposed to be taken by the Government/ASI in this regard?

MINISTER OF CULTURE (SHRIMATI CHANDRESH KUMARI KATOCH)

(a)to(e) A statement is laid on the table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a)TO (e) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.179 FOR 17.12.2013 REGARDING ENCROACHMENT AT PROTECTED MONUMENTS

(a) There are 3678 centrally protected monuments/sites which have been declared as of national importance. The Archaeological Survey of India undertakes their regular conservation and preservation by way of structural repairs, chemical treatment, laying of gardens and day to day maintenance as per archaeological norms subject to availability of resources. There are instances of encroachments in some of the centrally protected monuments and a detailed list (State-wise) is at Annexure-I.The encroachment in the premises of the protected monuments and protected areas and unauthorized constructions in the prohibited and regulated areas are removed as per the provisions contained in the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains 1958 (Amendment and Validation) Act, 2010 and Rules framed thereunder.

In order to contain the encroachments and removing them, the Superintending Archaeologist in charge of the Circles have been vested with the powers of an Estate Officer to issue eviction notices/orders to the encroachers under Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1971. They are also authorised to issue show cause notices under the provisions of Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains 1958 (Amendment and Validation) Act, 2010 and Rules 1959 followed by a direction to the District Collector/ Magistrate by Central Government to remove such encroachment under section 19 (2) of the Act and Section 38

(2) of the Rule. Assistance in containing and removing encroachments is also sought from the respective State Government/police force and where there are no fruitful results, actions are initiated against the encroachers by filing cases in the court of law. In addition to the regular watch and ward staff, private security personnel,

State police guards and CISF have also been provided for the safety and security of selected monuments. Removal of encroachments is an ongoing process and is carried out under the provisions of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains 1958 (Amendment and Validation) Act, 2010.

(b) Details of monuments from where encroachments have been removed by Archaeological Survey of India are given in the Annexure-II.

(c)to(e) There is no such policy with the Archaeological Survey of India to rehabilitate/relocate the encroachers of the centrally protected monuments.