CHENNAI:
Tamil Nadu has the second highest number of centrally protected monuments/sites that are encroached upon, minister of state (independent charge) for culture and tourism
Prahlad Singh Patel informed
Lok Sabha
recently. There are 74 centrally
monuments
in the state, from where unauthorised occupants should be evicted.
To a question on encroachments in centrally protected monuments, the minister said a total of 321 centrally protected monuments had been encroached upon. Uttar Pradesh has 75 monuments/sites followed by Tamil Nadu. Karnataka has 48 and Maharashtra has 46 monuments/sites that are encroached upon.
The minister denied that encroachment had been increasing at a rapid rate during the last five years. He also spoke about the various steps taken by the government to keep historical monuments free from encroachments.
“Proactive steps have been taken by the
ASI
under the provisions of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958 and Rules 1959 to keep the historical monuments free from encroachments in all the states and UTs. Superintending archaeologists are authorised to issue show-cause notices under the provisions of the Act followed by a direction to the district collector/magistrate by central government to remove such encroachment,” he said.