Lok Sabha Question No. 307 (STARRED), answered on 2020-03-16
Subject: Incidents of Theft at Sites of Archaeological Importance
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Chandra Prakash Joshi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION  No: *307 TO BE ANSWERED ON  16.3.2020

## INCIDENTS OF THEFT AT SITES OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE

## *307. SHRI CHANDRA PRAKASH JOSHI:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether any incidents of theft at sites of archaeological importance and protected sites have come to notice/ been reported during the last three years;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the norms fixed for protection of archaeological sites; and
- (d) the action taken by the Government on such incidents?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR CULTURE AND TOURISM

## (PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL)

(a) to (d)                 A statement is laid on the table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) to (d) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *307 FOR 16.03.2020

- (a) Yes Sir.
- (b) The details are at ANNEXURE .
- (c) As per Section 2 of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, any structure, erection or monument, or any tumulus or place of interment, or any cave,  rock  sculpture,  inscription  or  monolith,  which  is  of  historical,  archaeological  or artistic interest and which has been in existence for not less than one hundred years are considered  as  of  national  importance  i.e.  for  Central  protection.    As  and  when  such proposals  are  received  from  field  offices  of  Archaeological  Survey  of  India  these  are evaluated, considered and recommended by the Committee of Officers duly constituted by the Director General, on the basis of their historical, archaeological or artistic value and worthiness for declaring them as of national importance. The proposals recommended  by  the Committee  of Officers are then submitted to the Central Government for approval before issuing notification under Section 4(1)  of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, inviting objections to be followed  by  another  notification  under  Section  4(3)  after  attending  to  the  objections received from the interested persons.
- (d) In such incidents ASI lodges the FIR in respective police station.

## STARRED QUESTION NO. 307 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.3.2020

ANNEXURE REFFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (b) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *307 FOR 16.03.2020

List of theft cases of Antiquities reported from Centrally Protected Monuments/Sites/Site Museums under the Jurisdiction of Archaeological Survey of India during last three years and Current Year

|   Sl. No. | State          | Name of Monuments/ Sites &district                                                                                             | Description of the antiquity   | Date of Theft   | Action taken / Status     |
|-----------|----------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------|-----------------|---------------------------|
|         1 | Andhra Pradesh | Sri Anandavalli Ammavaru Temple, Parasuramshwara Swamy Complex, Gudimallam, Chitoor district - a Centrally protected monument. | Stone sculpture of Nandi.      | 03.01.2017      | FIR lodged/ Not recovered |
|         2 | Karnataka      | Sadashiva Swamy Temple, Nuggehalli dist. Hassan, Karnataka - a Centrally Protected Monument.                                   | Copper Kalasha.                | 15.02.2020      | FIR lodged/ Not recovered |

## ANNEXURE