Question : ENCROACHMENTS OF MONUMENT AREAS

(a) the average amount of fund spent on a historical monuments/sites for conservation and preservation during the last three years and the current year, monument-wise and State-wise;

(b) the revenue earned by the Government from those protected monuments/heritage sites during the last three years and the current year, year-wise and monument-wise;

(c) whether the Government proposes to include more monuments/heritage sites in the list of protected monuments;

(d) if so, the details thereof, State-wise; and

(e) the steps taken by the Government to keep the historical monuments free from encroachment?

MINISTER OF STATE FOR PLANNING AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SHRI V. NARAYANASAMY)

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

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) TO (e) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.147 OR 4.8.2010

There are 3,675 monuments/sites declared as of national importance. These are onserved, preserved and maintained by way of structural repairs on need basis as per rchaeological principles and subject to availability of resources. On an average, about Rs.3.92 lakh was spent on a monument during each of the last three years. The details of expenditure incurred on these monuments/sites during the last three years and the current year (upto June) State- wise and Circle-wise is at Annexure-I. Monument-wise details are being collected and will be laid on the table of the House.

There are 116 ticketed monuments under the jurisdiction of Archaeological Survey of India. The details of revenue collected by way of entrance fee during the last three years and the current year (upto June) is at Annexure-II.

Under section 4(1) of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, there is provision for the Central Government to declare any ancient monument, archaeological site or remains to be of national importance. The State-wise list of monuments/sites identified for consideration as of national importance is at Annexure– III.

The Superintending Archaeologists of the Circles of ASI have the powers for removal of encroachments under the provisions of Section 19 of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958. They are also vested with the powers of Estate Officer under the provisions of the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1971 to evict the encroachers. The officials of the Archaeological Survey of India keep constant vigil on the protected monuments to keep them free from the encroachments. They also interact with the District and State authorities, from time to time, to remove the encroachments. Wherever feasible and necessary, fencing around the centrally protected monuments, have been provided to ensure that no encroachment takes place.