Question : NATIONAL MISSION ON MONUMENTS AND ANTIQUITIES

(a) whether invaluable idols of Gods / Goddesses/antiques and precious statues are being smuggled from Rajasthan, Orissa, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Tamil Nadu to foreign countries;

(b) if so, the details thereof during the last three years and the current year;

(c) the number of FIRs registered in this regard, State – wise during the above period;

(d) the steps taken by the Government so far to check the said smuggling and bring back the articles to India;

(e) whether the Government has recently reviewed the working of ``National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities`` and

(f) if so, the outcome thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PLANNING, PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS, PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS (SHRI V. NARAYANASAMY)

(a): As per the available data, two objects were stolen from a ruins of temple, Gadgach, Atru, Dist Baran, Rajasthan and traced in USA.

(b) Detailed data of last three years are annexed. & (Annexure-I smuggling cases

(c): (Annexure-II –theft cases)

The FIRs have been lodged in all the theft cases.

(d): To ensure protection of the ancient sculptures and artifacts in centrally protected Monuments, Sites and Museums, watch and ward staff have been deployed. Their strength has been supplemented by deployment of private security guards, State Police guards and Central Industrial Security force. For retrieval of two objects traced in U.S.A., the Archaeological Survey of India has approached the Indian Embassy at Washington DC.

(e): Yes sir.

(f): Ministry of Culture has reviewed the performance of National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities (NMMA) in the review meetings held on Aug 2009 and May 2010. The outcome of NMMA as on date is at Annexure III.