Lok Sabha Question No. 1367 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-07-25
Subject: Protection of Monuments, Museums and Artefacts
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: SUSHMITA DEV, V. SATHYABAMA, RANJEET RANJAN, RAJESH RANJAN  (PAPPU  YADAV), T.G. VENKATESH BABU

## 1367.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1367 TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.7.2016 SRAVANA 3, 1938 (SAKA)

## PROTECTION OF MONUMENTS, MUSEUMS AND ARTEFACTS

KUMARI SUSHMITA DEV: SHRIMATI  V. SATHYA BAMA: SHRIMATI RANJEET RANJAN: SHRI RAJESH RANJAN: SHRI VENKATESH BABU T.G.:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (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?

## ANSWER

## 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 |    853.5  |    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 |