Question : . PROTECTION OF MONUMENTS IN RAJASTHAN

(a)the policy of the Government in respect of protection and conservation of monuments, and maintenance of museums;

(b)the steps taken by the Government for protection and conservation of monuments and manuscripts of historical and cultural importance in Rajasthan and the total fund spent during the last three years on this scheme;

(c)whether the allotted fund has been utilized;

(d)if so, the purposes for which the said fund has been utilized;

(e)whether any proposal has been sent by the State Government in this regard; and

(f)if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Government thereon ?

MINISTER FOR INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND CULTURE (SHRI S. JAIPAL REDDY)


(a)Any building or site more than one hundred years old having archaeological, historical and architectural importance can be declared as protected monument as per the requirements of Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act 1958. For the protected monuments the conservation work is attended to on continuous basis. For archaeological site museums the maintenance and upgradation work is also attended to regularly.

(b)There are one hundred and fifty nine protected monuments of Archaeological Survey of India in Rajasthan. For the structural conservation and chemical preservation of these monuments, programmes are framed as per their actual acquirement on priority basis. The protection and conservation of manuscripts is being attended to under the National Mission for Manuscripts. The Manuscripts Conservation Centre and Manuscripts Resource Centre have been opened at Rajasthan Oriental Research Institute, Jodhpur for Conservation of Manuscripts. The details of the funds spent during the last three years are as under.

Item	Year	Expenditure (Rs in Lakhs)

Conservation of Monuments	2001-02	249.25
2002-03	196.94
2003-04	372.47
Conservation of Manuscripts	Till date	10.68