(a) whether any incidents of theft at sites of archaeological importance and protected sites have come to notice/ been reported during the last three years;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the norms fixed for protection of archaeological sites; and
(d) the action taken by the Government on such incidents?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR CULTURE AND TOURISM
(PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL)
(a) to (d) A statement is laid on the table of the House.
STATEMENT REFFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) to (d) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *307 FOR 16.03.2020
(a) Yes Sir.
(b) The details are at ANNEXURE.
(c) As per Section 2 of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, any structure, erection or monument, or any tumulus or place of interment, or any cave, rock sculpture, inscription or monolith, which is of historical, archaeological or artistic interest and which has been in existence for not less than one hundred years are considered as of national importance i.e. for Central protection. As and when such proposals are received from field offices of Archaeological Survey of India these are evaluated, considered and recommended by the Committee of Officers duly constituted by the Director General, on the basis of their historical, archaeological or artistic value and worthiness for declaring them as of national importance. The proposals recommended by the Committee of Officers are then submitted to the Central Government for approval before issuing notification under Section 4(1) of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, inviting objections to be followed by another notification under Section 4(3) after attending to the objections received from the interested persons.
(d) In such incidents ASI lodges the FIR in respective police station.
ANNEXURE
STARRED QUESTION NO. 307 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.3.2020
ANNEXURE REFFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (b) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *307 FOR 16.03.2020
List of theft cases of Antiquities reported from Centrally Protected Monuments/Sites/Site Museums under the Jurisdiction of Archaeological Survey of India during last three years and Current Year
Sl. No. State Name of Monuments/ Sites & district Description of the antiquity Date of Theft Action taken / Status
1. Andhra Pradesh Sri Anandavalli Ammavaru Temple, Parasuramshwara Swamy Complex, Gudimallam, Chitoor district – a Centrally protected monument. Stone sculpture of Nandi. 03.01.2017 FIR lodged/ Not recovered
2. Karnataka Sadashiva Swamy Temple, Nuggehalli dist. Hassan, Karnataka – a Centrally Protected Monument. Copper Kalasha. 15.02.2020 FIR lodged/ Not recovered