Lok Sabha Question No. 4201 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-22
Subject: Development of Five Archaeological Sites as Iconic Sites
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Jayanta Kumar Roy, Sangeeta Kumari Singh Deo, Sukanta Majumdar, Bhola Singh, Vinod Kumar Sonkar, Rajveer (Raju Bhaiya) Singh, Raja Amareshwara Naik, Nisith Pramanik

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4201 ANSWERED ON 22.03.2021

## DEVELOPMENT OF FIVE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES AS ICONIC SITES

4201.  DR. JAYANTA KUMAR ROY:

SHRIMATI SANGEETA KUMARI SINGH DEO:

DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR:

SHRI BHOLA SINGH:

SHRI VINOD KUMAR SONKAR:

SHRI RAJVEER SINGH (RAJU BHAIYA):

SHRI RAJA AMARESHWARA NAIK:

SHRI NISITH PRAMANIK:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  planned  to  develop  five  archeological  sites as Iconic Sites with on-site museums and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government has proposed to set up Museum on Numistics and Trade, Maritime museum and Tribal museum and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  identified  four  museums  from  across  the country  to  be  taken  up  for  renovation  and  re-curation  including  Indian Museum in Kolkata and if so, the details thereof ;
- (d) whether the Government  proposes to establish an Indian Institute of Heritage and Conservation; and
- (e) if  so,  the  other  important  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government for the development of museums in the country?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR CULTURE & TOURISM (SHRI PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL)

- (a)
- Yes Sir,

The Ministry of Finance in the budget 2020 has announced development of five (05) nos. of Iconic sites with on-site museums across India which include -  1.  Hastinapur  (Uttar  Pradesh),  2.  Rakhigarhi  (Haryana),  3.  Sibsagar (Assam), 4. Dholavira (Gujrat) and 5. Adichannalur (Tamil Nadu) to promote tourism. The sites were selected because of their Outstanding Archaeological/

Historical Value. Each of the sites represents unique aspects of Indian history and cultural development.

- (b) Finance Minister in her Budget Speech on 01.2.2020 made certain announcements in the field of Culture. Some of the announcements and their status are as under:

A museum on Numismatics and Trade in the historic Old Mint building Kolkata - The vacation process of the Old Mint premises by CRPF had been completed. Ministry of Finance has recently transferred back ownership of the said premises to SPMCIL. SPMCIL may work with CRPF that they may leave a  small  contingent  till  construction/  renovation  work  start  for  security  of  the Old Silver Mint, Kolkata premises. The matter is also taken up with Ministry of Finance for finalizing execution of project.

Maritime Museum at Lothal - To showcase India's rich and diverse maritime heritage,  Ministry  of  Ports,  Shipping  and Waterways  is  developing  a  worldclass National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) at Lothal, Gujrat. NMHC shall consolidate all diverse and rich artefacts from ancient to modern times and provide access to public and make them aware, learn and get inspired from maritime heritage.

Tribal  Museum -  Ministry  of  Tribal  Affairs  has  sanctioned  Tribal  Freedom Fighters  Museum  in  the  following  10  States  under  the  Centrally  Sponsored Scheme 'Support to Tribal Research Institute':-

|   Sl. No. | State          | Location        |
|-----------|----------------|-----------------|
|         1 | Gujarat        | Rajpipla        |
|         2 | Jharkhand      | Ranchi          |
|         3 | Andhra Pradesh | Lambasingi      |
|         4 | Chattisgarh    | Raipur          |
|         5 | Kerala         | Kozhikode       |
|         6 | Madhya Pradesh | Chhindwara      |
|         7 | Telangana      | Hyderabad       |
|         8 | Manipur        | Senapati        |
|         9 | Mizoram        | Mualngo, Kelsih |
|        10 | Goa            | Ponda           |

- (c) Finance Minister has announced in her budget speech for 2020-21 for developing of 05 iconic museums in Delhi, Shimla, Srinagar, Chennai and Indian Museum, Kolkata.

The following nine galleries of Indian Museum in Kolkata have been identified for curation/re-curation and re-development:

- 1) Entry Mauryan Foyer
- 2) Bharhut
- 3) Gandhara
- 4) Numismatics
- 5) Long Archaeology
- 6) Pre and Proto History
- 7) Bronze
- 8) Human Evolution
- 9) Cultural Anthropology

The Civil and Electrical work for 9 Galleries have been awarded to CPWD.

- (d) Yes, Sir.

To fulfil the Budget Announcement made at para 73 of 2020-21 the Ministry has approved establishment of an Indian Institute of Heritage and Conservation by integrating some of the institutions under Ministry of Culture.

- (e) Ministry  of  Culture  operates  Museum  Grant  Scheme  under  which  financial assistance  is  provided  for  setting  up  of  new  Museums,  development  of existing Museums managed by State Governments and Societies, Autonomous bodies, Local Bodies and Trusts registered under the Societies Act, to strengthen and modernize the existing museums at the regional, state and District level, digitization of art objects in the museums across the country for  making  their  images/catalogues  available  over  the  website  and  for capacity  building  of  Museum  professionals.  Museum  Grant  Scheme  is applicable to all States and UTs of the Country.

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