There are Three Thousand Six Hundred Ninety Eight (3698) centrally protected monuments/sites in the country under the jurisdiction of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). The conservation and maintenance of these centrally protected monuments/sites is a regular process and is taken up as per the requirement and availability of resources.

Government takes all necessary measures to protect and preserve the cultural heritage from the growing pressures of commercialization and urbanization under the provisions contained in the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958 and Rules framed thereunder. In order to contain the encroachments and removing them, the Superintending Archaeologist in charge of the Circles have been vested with the powers of an Estate Officer to issue eviction notices/orders to the encroachers under Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1971. They are also authorised to issue show cause notices under the provisions of Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958 and Rules 1959 followed by a direction to the District Collector/Magistrate by Central Government to remove such encroachment. Assistance in containing and removing encroachments is also sought from the respective State Government/police authorities from time to time. Further, in addition to the regular watch and ward staff, private security personnel and CISF have also been provided for the safety and security of selected monuments/sites across the country.

ASI maintains and conserves monuments under its jurisdiction following the National Conservation Policy, 2014 and as per requirement and availability of resources.  ASI also ensures the provision of visitor amenities at its monuments for the comfortable and authentic experience of tourists.

This information was given by Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.

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Sunil Kumar Tiwari

E-mail: - pibculture[at]gmail[dot]com

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