CAG Report on Heritage Conservation

CAG Report: Highlights

• No Policy: There is no national policy on archaeological exploration and excavation.
• No database: Although the in CAG Report, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has estimated some 58 lakh plus antiquities all over India, but there is no database or inventory in its possession.
• Reduced Budget: The ASI budget for exploration and excavations is less than 1 per cent, although the ASI expressed the intention to raise the allocation to 5 per cent of the total budget.
• The budget of the ASI in 2021-2022 has been reduced by more than Rs 200 crore. For an organisation with a total budget is Rs 1,246.75 crore, this is a major reduction.
• Lack of synergy between the different agencies involved in heritage conservation: The National Culture Fund, which was established to rope in individuals and corporate groups to fund conservation, has utilized only 14 per cent of its funds because of the lack of coordination with the ASI.
• Finalization of Monuments for Protection: The National Monuments Authority, a statutory body for implementing heritage by-laws and site plans for each monument, has only finalised and notified 31 monuments.
• This is a fraction of the 3,693 monuments on the list of Centrally Protected Monuments.
• AMASR Act: The CAG Report found out that, in many cases, the ASI has been working in violation of the provisions of the Monuments Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act (or AMASR Act).
• For example, at Humayun’s tomb (a Nationally Protected Monument), a CAG Report inspection revealed commercial construction being undertaken in the prohibited area by an agency other than the ASI.
• The AMASR Act, 1958, amended in 2010, prohibits construction 100 metres around a protected monument. The next 300-metre radius is regulated too.
• Amenities and Conservation: Joint physical inspection of selected monuments revealed (i) absence of public amenities public toilet, drinking water, space for vehicle parking, ramp, guide, security etc. (ii) shortcomings in conservation works at monuments and management of heritage gardens.
• Overall vacancy position of ASI: It has remained static at 29 per cent since earlier audit. At management levels and in important conservation branches of ASI, the position had further deteriorated.
• Lack of Future plans: ASI had no strategy or roadmap (long term/medium term) to fulfill its mandate. The conservation activities were being undertaken on ad-hoc/annual basis.

CAG Report: Monument Regulating Bodies

• The Ministry of Culture (the Ministry) is responsible for preservation, conservation, promotion and dissemination of all forms of art and culture in the country.
• The Ministry, through ASI, is engaged in conservation, preservation and maintenance of the Centrally Protected Monuments (CPM) of national importance and excavations of ancient sites.
• In addition to ASI, National Culture Fund (NCF) and National Monument Authority (NMA) have also been established by the Government to support the process of conservation and protection of monuments.

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