Satellite Mapping of ASI Monuments

Satellite Mapping of ASI Monuments 

Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with National Remote Sensing Centre, Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) for preparation of satellite based maps indicating prohibited and regulated areas clearly for the information of public and also to facilitate procedure for grant of permissions for construction related activity within prohibited and regulated areas of all 3686 centrally protected monuments. 


ISRO has a repository of photographs of various monuments/sites that have been taken at periodic intervals. Using these photographs that are taken routinely through satellites over a period of time and combining them with the map-plotted boundaries of plots for which permissions under AMASR Act have been given, a surveillance system is within the realm of technological possibility. 

This information was given by Minister of State for Culture and Tourism (Independent Charge) and Minister of State for Civil Aviation Dr. Mahesh Sharma in a written reply in Lok Sabha today. 

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National Commission for Cultural and Heritage Sites 

The Government does not intend to constitute a National Commission for Cultural and Heritage Sites. The Government had introduced a Bill named “The National Commission For Heritage Sites Bill, 2009” in the Rajya Sabha on 26.02.2009, which was referred to the Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture. The same was pending since then for making necessary amendments in the Bill in pursuance to the recommendations, made in the 150th Report of Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture, on the Bill. Accordingly, consultations were held with various stakeholders including the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), National Monuments Authority (NMA) as well as Ministries of Urban Development, Environment, Forest & Climate Change (the then Environment & Forests) etc. 

Based on the consultations, the Government decided not to constitute a National Heritage Sites Commission as envisaged in the said Bill. The Bill was accordingly withdrawn by the Government from the Rajya Sabha on 31.07.2015. 

This information was given by Minister of State for Culture and Tourism (Independent Charge) and Minister of State for Civil Aviation Dr. Mahesh Sharma in a written reply in Lok Sabha today. 

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Monuments/Sites Identified/Proposed by State Governments for Central Protection 

Monuments protected by State Governments are looked after by concerned Department of respective Governments.  There is no incidence where a State protected monument is taken up for Central protection.  Therefore, question of handing over of any monument does not arise. `

Though no such demand has been received in the recent past from the Conservationists to include more ancient monuments in the list of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) protected monuments, a few proposals have been received from State Governments. List thereof is given below.

LIST OF MONUMENTS/SITES IDENTIFIED/PROPOSED BY STATE GOVERNMENTS FOR CENTRAL PROTECTION

Sl. No.	Name of Monument/Site	State
1.	Ancient Buddhist  Institute Remains in the locality of Nyarma Thiksay, District Leh	Jammu& Kashmir
2.	Group of Temples at Ranipur Jhariyal, District Bolangir	Odisha
3.	Proposal for protection as of national importance in respect of Biranchi Nayarana Temple, buguda, Orissa.	Odisha
4.	Vimalesvari Temple, Huma, Dist. Sambhalpur	Odisha
5.	Nilamadhava Temple, Kantilo, Dist. Nayagarh	Odisha
6.	Ganjam Fort, Ganjam	Odisha
7.	Nrusinghanatha Temple, Paikmal, Dist. Baragarh	Odisha
8.	Suku Sari Deula and Bhabanisankara Temple Complex by the side of Sari Deula in Bhubaneswar	Odisha
9.	Protection proposal of Jagatjit Palace, Kapurthala, Punjab.	Punjab
10.	Birth Place of Madan Mohan Malviya, Lucknow	Uttar Pradesh
11.	Proposal of Jyotisher, Dist. Kurukshetra, Haryana.	Haryana
12.	Submerged temples in Govind Sagar lake in Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh.	Himachal Pradesh
13.	Unakoti Rock cut carvings near north Tripura district	Tripura
14.	Buddhist Stupa and other Navograha temples excavated at Pilak in south Tripura district	Tripura
15.	Buddhist Stupas at Boxanagar in west Tripura district	Tripura
16.	Rock cut Carvings across the bank of Gomti River at Chabimura in south Tripura district	Tripura
17.	Fateh Billas Mahal, Khetri	Rajasthan
18.	Fort of Bajrang Garh	Madhya Pradesh
19.	Protection of Patna College Building and Jackson hostel.	Bihar
20.	Mandar Parvat, Bihar	Bihar
21.	Birth Place of Dr. Dwarikanath Kotnis Memorial, Solapur	Maharashtra
22.	Birth Place of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar at Mhow	Madhya Pradesh

Applications received from various States/ UTs and amount approved

Sl No.	States	Amount approved (Rs. In Lakh)	Number of Libraries
1	Andhra Pradesh	80.00	2
2	Arunachal Pradesh	310.00	2
3	Assam	110.00	2
4	Chhattisgarh	174.00	2
5	Goa	310.00	2
6	Gujarat	106.10	1
7	Karnataka	310.00	2
8	Kerala	114.99	1
9	Manipur	60.0	2
10	Mizoram	150.00	2
11	Odisha (Orissa)	263.36	2
12	Rajasthan	246.97	2
13	Tamil Nadu	160.00	2
14	Telangana	164.25	2
15	Tripura	310.00	2
16	Uttar Pradesh	293.00	2
17	West Bengal	309.79	2
18	Puducherry (Pondicherry)	246.49	2
19	Madhya Pradesh	**	**
20	Sikkim	**	**
	Total	3718.95	34

This information was given by Minister of State for Culture and Tourism (Independent Charge) and Minister of State for Civil Aviation Dr. Mahesh Sharma in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.


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Scheme for maintenance of National Libraries 

National Library, located in Kolkata, is the only National Library under the Ministry of Culture. Other Libraries of national importance under Ministry of Culture are: (i) Delhi Public Library, Delhi (ii) Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public Library, Patna (iii) Central Secretariat Library,Delhi (iv) Rampur Raza Library, Uttar Pradesh. These Libraries incur expenditure on maintenance and purchase of books out of their total Budget allocation.

 The Scheme “National Mission on Libraries – Up-gradation of Libraries – providing services to the public” has been approved with a total outlay of Rs.400 Crore for the 12th Plan period. The Mission will upgrade infrastructure of selected libraries and upgrade technology in 35 State Central Libraries and 35 District Libraries (to be identified by State Governments) and 6 Libraries under the Ministry of Culture. The details of applications received from various States/UTs and amount approved is given below.

Applications received from various States/ UTs and amount approved

CULTURAL SITES

(Under Protection of Archaeological Survey of India)

S.No	Name of Site	State
1.	Ajanta Caves (1983)	Maharashtra
2.	Ellora Caves (1983)	Maharashtra
3.	Agra Fort (1983)	Uttar Pradesh
4.	Taj Mahal (1983)	Uttar Pradesh
5.	Sun Temple, Konarak (1984)	Odisha
6.	Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram (1984)	Tamil Nadu
7.	Churches and Convents of Goa (1986)	Goa
8.	Group of Temples, Khajuraho (1986)	Madhya Pradesh
9.	Group of Monuments at Hampi (1986)	Karnataka
10.	Group of Monuments, FatehpurSikri (1986)	Uttar Pradesh
11.	Group of Temples, Pattadakal (1987)	Karnataka
12.	Elephanta Caves ( 1987)	Maharashtra
13.	Great Living Chola temples at Thanjavur, Gangaikondacholapuram and Darasuram (1987 & 2004)	Tamil Nadu
14.	Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi (1989)	Madhya Pradesh
15.	Humayun’s  Tomb, Delhi (1993)	Delhi
16.	Qutb Minar Complex, Delhi (1993)	Delhi
17.	Prehistoric Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka (2003)	Madhya Pradesh
18.	Champaner-Pavagarh Archaeological Park (2004)	Gujarat
19.	Red Fort Complex, Delhi (2007)	Delhi
20.	Hill Forts of Rajasthan  (Chittaurgarh, Kumbhalgarh, Jaisalmer and Ranthambhore, Amber and Gagron Forts)      (2013) (Amber and Gagron Forts are under protection of Rajasthan State Archaeology and Museums)	Rajasthan
21.	Rani ki Vav (2014)	Gujarat

 

** The applications received from the States of Madhya Pradesh and Sikkim are incomplete.

This information was given by Minister of State for Culture and Tourism (Independent Charge) and Minister of State for Civil Aviation Dr. Mahesh Sharma in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.
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Policy to adopt World Heritage Sites 

UNESCO, with the help of 21 member World Heritage Committee and advisory bodies such as International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) and International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), within the framework of its Operational Guidelines, decides about the cultural and natural sites to be included on the World Heritage list. Such cultural and natural sites must display the necessary Outstanding Universal Value (OUV), fulfill one or more out of 10 prescribed criteria (as given below), maintain the condition of authenticity and integrity and should be in a good state of conservation.

At times, concerns are raised by the World Heritage Centre during inscription process those relate to the state of conservation or its management (including that of its buffer). State party addresses such concerns by giving necessary commitment to effectively manage the site and its buffer, thus safeguarding its Outstanding Universal Value (OUV).


Criteria for the assessment of Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) as per UNESCO’s Operational Guidelines:-

1.      to represent a masterpiece of human creative genius;
2.      to exhibit an important interchange of human values, over a span of time or within a   cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture or technology, monumental arts, town-planning or landscape design;
3.      to bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization which is living or which has disappeared;
4.      to be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological   ensemble or landscape which illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in human history;
5.      to be an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement, land-use, or sea-use which is representative of a culture (or cultures), or human interaction with the environment especially when it has become vulnerable under the impact of irreversible change;
6.      to be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance. (The Committee considers that this criterion should preferably be used in conjunction with other criteria.
7.      to contain superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance;
8.      to be outstanding examples representing major stages of earth's history, including the record of life, significant on-going geological processes in the development of landforms, or significant geomorphic or physiographic features;
9.      to be outstanding examples representing significant on-going ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, fresh water, coastal and marine ecosystems and communities of plants and animals;
10.     to contain the most important and significant natural habitats for in-situ conservation of biological diversity, including those containing threatened species of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science or conservation.


There are 32 sites from India declared as World Heritage properties as follows.

CULTURAL SITES

(Under Protection of Archaeological Survey of India)

22.	Mountain Railway of India ( Darjeeling,1999), Nilgiri (2005), Kalka-Shimla(2008)	West Bengal,  Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh
23.	Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus) (2004)	Maharashtra

Under Protection of Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee

24.

Mahabodhi Temple, Bodhgaya (2002)

Bihar

Under Protection of Rajasthan State Archaeology and Museums Department

25.

Jantar Mantar, Jaipur (2010)

Rajasthan

NATURAL SITES

Under Protection of Ministry of Environment & Forest

26.	Kaziranga National Park (1985)	Assam
27.	Manas Wild Life Sanctuary (1985)	Assam
28.	Keoladeo National Park (1985)	Rajasthan
29.	Sunderban National Park (1987)	West Bengal
30.	Nanda Devi  and Valley of Flowers National Parks (1988, 2005)	Uttarakhand
31.	Western Ghats (2012)	Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra,Tamil Nadu
32.	Great Himalayan National Park (2014)	Himachal Pradesh

This information was given by Minister of State for Culture and Tourism (Independent Charge) and Minister of State for Civil Aviation Dr. Mahesh Sharma in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.
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Revenue Earned from Monuments under Archaeological Survey of India 

The revenue collected from the entry fee at the ticketed monuments of the Archaeological Survey of India is remitted into the Government account in the Consolidated Fund of India.  This is in accordance with the Central Government Account (Receipts and Payments) Rules.

The details of revenue earned from 116 ticketed monument-wise  (State-wise) during the last two years are given below : 

LIST OF MONUMENTS/SITES IDENTIFIED/PROPOSED BY STATE GOVERNMENTS FOR CENTRAL PROTECTION

Sl. No.	Name of Monument/Site	State	Action Taken
1.	Ancient Buddhist  Institute Remains in the locality of Nyarma Thiksay, District Leh	Jammu and Kashmir	The proposal is further processed  for issuing Preliminary Notification
2.	Group of Temples at Ranipur Jhariyal, District Bolangir	Odisha	Listed for getting Verified
3.	Proposal for protection as of national importance in respect of Biranchi Nayarana Temple, buguda, Orissa.	Odisha	Listed for getting Verified
4.	Vimalesvari Temple, Huma, Dist. Sambhalpur	Odisha	Listed for getting Verified
5.	Nilamadhava Temple, Kantilo, Dist. Nayagarh	Odisha	Listed for getting Verified
6.	Ganjam Fort, Ganjam	Odisha	Listed for getting Verified
7.	Nrusinghanatha Temple, Paikmal, Dist. Baragarh	Odisha	Listed for getting Verified
8.	Suku Sari Deula and Bhabanisankara Temple Complex by the side of Sari Deula in Bhubaneswar	Odisha	Listed for getting Verified
9.	Protection proposal of Jagatjit Palace, Kapurthala, Punjab.	Punjab	Concerned were requested to take up  for State protection
10.	Birth Place of Madan Mohan Malviya, Lucknow	Uttar Pradesh	Listed for getting Verified
11.	Proposal of Jyotisher, Dist. Kurukshetra, Haryana.	Haryana	Not considered for Central protection.
12.	Submerged temples in Govind Sagar lake in Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh.	Himachal Pradesh	State Government has been communicated to take up protection at their end.
13.	Unakoti Rock cut carvings near north Tripura district	Tripura	Listed for getting Verified
14.	Buddhist Stupa and other Navograha temples excavated at Pilak in south Tripura district	Tripura	Listed for getting Verified
15.	Buddhist Stupas at Boxanagar in west Tripura district	Tripura	Listed for getting Verified
16.	Rock cut Carvings across the bank of Gomti River at Chabimura in south Tripura district	Tripura	Listed for getting Verified
17.	Fateh Billas Mahal, Khetri	Rajasthan	State Government has been communicated to take up protection at their end.
18.	Fort of Bajrang Garh	Madhya Pradesh	Listed for getting Verified
19.	Protection of Patna College Building and Jackson hostel.	Bihar	Concerned has been communicated to take up the matter to declare it as a State protected monument.
20.	Mandar Parvat, Bihar	Bihar	Listed for getting Verified
21.	Birth Place of Dr. Dwarikanath Kotnis Memorial, Solapur	Maharashtra	Listed for getting Verified
22.	Birth Place of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar at Mhow	Madhya Pradesh	Listed for getting Verified

REVENUE DATA FROM ENTRANCE FEE AT CENTRALLY PROTECTED TICKETED MONUMENTS UNDER ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA DURING THE LAST TWO YEARS

Amount in Rupees

Sl.No	Name of State and Monument/ Site	2013-14	2014-15
	Andhra Pradesh
1.	Buddhist Stupa and remains, Amaravathi	110070	158530
2.	Ancient Remains at Nagarjunakonda	623265	606980
3.	Rock-cut Hindu Temple, Undavalli	308940	416245
4.	Buddhist Monuments, Guntuplli	90205	115335
5.	Fort, Chandragiri	405220	526295
	Assam
6.	Ahom Raja’s Palace, Garhgaon, Sibsagar	293595	315751
7.	Karenghar of Ahom Kings, Sibsagar	871615	819290
8.	Ranghar pavillion, Jaisagar	3634435	447695
9.	Bisnudol, Joysagar	96630	107460
10.	Group of four Maidams Charaideo, Sibsagar	217825	217455
	Bihar
11.	Remains of Patliputra, (Kumrahar) Patna	998890	924895
12.	Ancient Site of Vaishali, Kolhua	1442925	1567015
13.	Excavated Remains at Nalanda	4684480	5275665
14.	Ruins of Vikramshila, Antichak	297580	336960
15.	Sher Shah Suri’s Tomb, Sararam	1201815	1396365
	Chhattisgarh
16.	Laxman Temple, Sirpur	341315	380300
	Gujarat
17.	Champaner Monuments, Champaner	1661310	1802970
18.	Sun Temple, Modhera	2501020	2547795
19.	Rani-ki-Vav, Patan	1998390	2495290
20.	Ashokan Rock Edicts, Junagadh	395395	48885
21.	Buddhist Caves, Junagadh	500960	521285
22.	Baba Pyare & Khapra Khodiya Caves, Junagadh	25385	6575
	Haryana
23.	Sheikh Chilli's Tomb, Thanesar	474545	637360
24.	Suraj Kund, Faridabad	223180	258110
	Himachal Pradesh
25.	Kangra Fort, Kangra	694370	814850
26.	Rock- Cut Temple, Masroor	227220	246840
	Jammu & Kashmir
27.	Palace Complex at Ramnagar	22050	22955
28.	Group of Temples,         Kiramchi	20454	29045
29.	Avantiswamin Temple, Avantipur	164665	193165
30.	Ancient Palace at Leh	860600	1091850
	Karnataka
31.	World Heritage Site, Hampi	58237340	14753000
32.	Daria Daulat Bagh, Sriragapatna	7101025	7139785
33.	Keshva Temble, Somanathpur	2154580	1954660
34.	Palace of Tipu Sultan, Bangalore	1129745	2290050
35.	Chitradurga Fort, Chitradurga	2085865	2346035
36.	Bellary Fort, Bellary	113670	43540
37.	Durga Temple Complex, Aihole	1641500	1776145
38.	Jaina & Vaishnava Caves, Badami	3017540	3104100
39.	Group of Monuments, Pattadakal	4825940	4979140
40.	Gol-Gumbaz, Bijapur	5495050	5761275
41.	Ibrahim Rouza, Bijapur	1364535	1238590
42.	Temple and Sculpture Shed, Lakkundi	108570	88775
	Kerala
43.	Bekal Fort, Pallikkare	1637180	1683660
44.	Mattancherry Palace Museum, Kochi, District Ernakulam	1773365	1922255
	Madhya Pradesh
45.	Buddhist Caves, Bagh	111445	127880
46.	The Palace in the Fort, Burhanpur	350465	352085
47.	Bhojshala and Kamal Maula’s mosque, Dhar	16773	16707
48.	Hoshang Shah’s Tomb, Mandu	1172700	1385600
49.	Group of Monuments, Mandu	1841700	2269215
50.	Roopmati Pavilion, Mandu	1881440	2308635
51.	Western Group of Temples, Khajuraho	22402030	20442150
52.	Buddhist monuments, Sanchi	3618460	4128920
53.	Gwalior Fort, Gwalior	2274115	2144225
	Maharashtra
54.	Ajanta Caves	9910010	9700160
55.	Ellora Caves	20622820	20404810
56.	Bibi ka Maqbara, Aurangabad	7818100	8224535
57.	Daulatabad Fort, Aurangabad	3615645	3538880
58.	Pandulena Caves, Mahoor	1114270	1230030
59.	Aurangabad Caves, Aurangabad	530850	582375
60.	Elephanta Caves, Gharipuri	12255330	14060230
61.	Buddhist Caves, Kanheri	1167450	1784475
62.	Shaniwarwada, Pune	4727995	5217920
63.	Agakhan Palace, Pune	1316205	1641640
64.	Lenyadri Caves	2030805	2329930
65.	Caves, temple and inscriptions, Karla	1199560	1298830
66.	Caves, temple and inscriptions, Bhaja	263255	294030
67.	Raigad Fort, Raigad	855275	822225
68.	Kolaba Fort	300715	280130
69.	Old Fort, Sholapur	111495	127270
	NCT Delhi
70.	Jantar Mantar, Delhi	2869495	2363600
71.	Tomb of Khan-i-Khana, Delhi	111830	123950
72.	Purana Qila, Delhi	5318120	5930835
73.	Sultanghari Tomb, Delhi	16025	14685
74.	Tughluqabad Fort, Delhi	425790	466710
75.	Kotla Feroz Shah, Delhi	581595	643280
76.	Safdarjung Tomb, Delhi	1047535	1901915
77.	Red fort, Delhi	60719750	59748550
78.	Humayun's Tomb, Delhi	71198110	63551550
79.	Qutb Minar, Delhi	101505890	102926690
	Odisha
80.	Sun Temple,  Konarak	24352060	25702130
81.	Udayagiri & Khandagiri Caves, Bhubaneshwar	3036420	2231590
82.	Rajarani Temple, Bhubaneshwar	221345	253685
83.	Ratnagiri Monuments, Ratnagiri	247320	242515
84.	Buddhist Remains, Lalitagiri	170975	181950
	Rajasthan
85.	Chittorgarh Fort, Chittorgarh	4618240	5003855
86.	Kumbhalgarh Fort, Kumbhalgarh	2767295	3085840
87.	Deeg Palaces, Deeg	300600	337810
	Tamilnadu
88.	Group of Monuments, Mamallapuram	27424160	27050890
89.	Fort, Thirumanayam	400815	366420
90.	Gingee Fort, Gingee	1234205	1086600
91.	Fort, Dindigul	192345	157305
92.	Muvarkoil, Kodumbalur, Pudukkottai	5740	7150
93.	Rock Cut Jain Temple, Sittannavassal	206790	250975
94.	Natural Cavern called Eladipallanan, Sittannavassal	189310	199225
	Telangana
95.	Charminar, Hyderabad	8476725	9104805
96.	Golconda Fort, Hyderabad	9292120	10229425
97.	Fort, Warangal	644770	754865
	Uttar Pradesh
98.	Taj Mahal, Agra	218273950	212355330
99.	Agra fort, Agra	102186790	105890140
100.	Fatehpur Sikri	56134640	63075490
101.	Akbar’s tomb, Sikandara, Agra	7203245	6314525
102.	Mariam’s tomb, Sikandara, Agra	283330	328915
103.	Itimad-ud-Daulah, Agra	7743795	8806055
104.	Rambagh group of monuments, Agra	402570	385765
105.	Mehtab Bagh, Agra	2524250	3019835
106.	Old fort (Shahi fort), Jaunpur	1209765	1141076
107.	Lord Cornwallis Tomb, Ghazipur	162060	229820
108.	Observatory Man Singh (Man Mahal), Varanasi	188070	740914
109.	Excavated Remains at Sarnath	10930205	12667554
110.	Monuments of  Sravasti, Sahet-Mahet	2507125	2906950
111.	Jhansi Fort, Jhansi	1276190	1387275
112.	Rani Mahal, Jhansi	70670	89970
113.	Residency, Lucknow	2278370	2236575
	West Bengal
114.	Kooch Bihar Palace, Kooch Bihar	2130810	2024115
115.	Hazarduari Palace, Murshidabad	7312550	7564500
116.	Bishnupur Group of Temples, Bishnupur	540905	643900
	Total:	968517827	933850612