Preservation of Ancient Monuments in India

Summary of Article on Protection of Ancient Monuments in India

Overview of Ancient Monuments:

• India has 3,688 declared ancient monuments and archaeological sites of national importance.
• Reports indicate 414 of these sites are facing encroachments.

Legal Framework:

• The protection of these monuments is governed by the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958 (AMASR Act, 1958).
• Under this Act, acquisition or ownership of the land on which a monument is located is not mandatory for its protection.

Responsibilities of ASI:

• The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is tasked with the protection and maintenance of monuments as per the provisions of the AMASR Act, 1958, and its rules established in 1959.
• The ASI takes appropriate action against encroachments or unauthorized activities per the relevant provisions of the AMASR Act.

Survey and Digitization:

• A joint survey is conducted with local revenue officials to determine the boundaries of protected monuments and sites, ensuring their protection.
• The ASI has completed the survey, georeferencing, and digitization of these protected sites, and the data has been uploaded to the Bhuvan Portal.
• Where necessary, this data is integrated with state land records in coordination with state governments and revenue officials.

State-wise Encroachment Data:

• A detailed annexure lists the number of encroached monuments by state/UT:
  • Andhra Pradesh: 1
  • Arunachal Pradesh: 1
  • Assam: 12
  • Bihar: 13
  • Chhattisgarh: 12
  • Daman and Diu (UT): 1
  • Goa: 1
  • Gujarat: 11
  • Haryana: 6
  • Himachal Pradesh: 3
  • Jammu and Kashmir (UT): 12
  • Karnataka: 60
  • Madhya Pradesh: 3
  • Maharashtra: 49
  • National Capital Delhi (UT): 14
  • Odisha: 13
  • Punjab: 3
  • Rajasthan: 30
  • Sikkim: 1
  • Telangana: 3
  • Tamil Nadu: 72
  • Tripura: 1
  • Uttar Pradesh: 78
  • West Bengal: 15
• Total: 414 encroached sites.

Key Takeaways:

• The protection of ancient monuments in India is a significant legal and cultural responsibility, guided by the AMASR Act of 1958.
• ASI plays a pivotal role in safeguarding these sites, and ongoing efforts include digitization and collaboration with state authorities to mitigate encroachments.
• The data on encroachments is critical for assessing the effectiveness of current protective measures and informing future actions.