Question : Protection of Monuments- Museums and Artefacts

(a) whether the Government has tightened the electronic security and surveillance apart from the physical security of Heritage Monuments, protected monuments, antiques and art effects deposited in various museums across the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof along with the total funds allocated and disbursed during the last five years in this regard;

(c) the steps taken by the Government to detect and curb smuggling of artifacts, antique materials and idols from India; and

(d) the number of incidents of museums in the country getting affecting/ damaged by natural disasters during the last three years and the measures adopted by the Government NDMA to protect the museums from natural disasters?

MINISTER OF STATE, CULTURE AND TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)

(DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

(a) Electronic security and surveillance apart from physical security has been provided at centrally protected monuments and museums under Ministry of Culture and Archaeological Survey of India based on security assessment.

(b) The electronic security gadgets includes CCTV, DFMD, HHMD, X-ray bagge’s scanner, fire alarm, smoke detectors, etc. The total funds allotted and disbursed during the last five years is at Annexure.

(c) The Archaeological Survey of India is committed towards the protection and safety of antiquities at the Centrally protected monuments, sites and museums as well. For this purpose, watch and ward staff have been deployed and their strength has been augmented by deploying private security guards, State Police armed guards and the Central Industrial Security Force. Constant interaction takes place between Archaeological Survey of India, Central Bureau of Investigation and Customs authorities to share information on the smuggling or art objects. India is also a signatory to the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the illicit Trafficking in cultural property.

(d) No such incidence reported.


ANNEXURE

ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (b) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1367 FOR 25.7.2016

EXPENDITURE INCURRED ON CENTRALLY PROTECTED MONUMENTS AND MUSEUMS UNDER ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA AND MINISTRY OF CULTURE ON THEIR SECURITY ASSESSMENT DURING THE LAST FIVE YEARS

Rupees in Lakhs

Sl.No. Expenditure incurring organization
2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16
1. Museums under Ministry of Culture
761.18 853.50 976.64 1050.08 1003.43
2. Museums under Archaeological Survey of India
45.63 36.63 75.28 51.02 97.39
3. Centrally protected monuments under Archaeological Survey of India on deployment of Private Security Guards and CISF personnel
3932.35 5421.99 4400.79 6463.53 6233.84
Gross Total
4739.16 6312.12 5452.71 7564.63 7334.66