Twent🔯y-four monu𝔉ments and sites in the country are "untraceable," the Parliament was informed on Monday.
Union Culture Minister G Kishan Red🍌dy in a written response to another question in Lok Sabha also said that "it is estimated that 210 thefts, involving 486 objects, have been reported from centrally-protected monuments/sites located in 19 states/UTs since Independence".
Recovery of stolen objects is a𝄹n ongoing process and 91 oꦛbjects have been recovered so far, he said.
What ASI is saying?
The Archaeological Survey of India has surveyed 8,478 villages in the last eight years and antiquarian remains have been found in 2,914 of them, Reddyꦬ said is response to another query.
Union Culture Minister G Kishan Reddy said that ASI "regularly conducts village to village surv🌳ey to explore and record th🥃e antiquarian remains".
There are a total of ꦡ3,693 heritage sites in India protected by the ASI, with 743 in Uttar Pradesh, the largest in a state.
In a written response to a question as tꦉo the number of missing monuments in the country, he said,🌺 "24 monuments/sites are untraceable".
The minister also shared state-wise de♏tails about village to ꧃village survey carried out by the ASI during the period spanning from 2014-15 to 2021-22.
The AS๊I surveyed 8,478 villages in this period and antiquarian remains have been found in 2,914 of these villages, as per the data shared.
Out of the 8,478 villages, the maximum number of vill🧜ages were surveyed in Punjab -- 1,459, followed by Karnataka -- 933; and antiquarian remains were found in 130 and 806 villages respectively in these two states.
In response to another query, Reddy said during the last five years (2017-2021) 3152 villages were surveyed out of which antiquarian remain🌺s weꦑre reported in 905 villages.
In response to ano🦄ther question, Reddy said ASI undertakes conservation works of 743 monuments, including 144 temples, in Uttar Pradesh.
Conservation of monuments is a continuous process. Work🃏s are carried out by ASI as per sitꦇe requirement and available resources, he said.
Also, 1,224 monuments have cultural notice boards, the mi𝓡nister sa🅺id.
On a query on the total number of ticketed and non-ticketed ASI monuments in the country, he said, there are 3,693 monuments, sites declared as of nation𝐆al importance under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (AMASR) Act, 1958 in the country, "out of which entry fee is charged at 143 locations".
In response to ano𝔉ther query he said, for entry fee purposes, monuments have been divided into two groups. Group ‘A’- monuments inscribed on World Heritage list, Group ‘B’- others. Category ‘A’ has 20 entries and remaining 123 are un꧅der Category ‘B’, he added.
On a separate query on whether "it is a fact that the Government is considering to fund a project to study genetic similarities and differences in the DNA (genetic) profiles of India population groups," the mi💟nister replied , "no".
"Some vague reports of carrying out a study on 'racial purity' by the Ministry of Culture appeared in a few print media which was immediately refuted. A joint
representation on the subjec💛t was al𝄹so received," he added.
In a response to another query, Reddy sa🅠id, till date approximately 60,000♎ programmes have been organised all over India by central ministries or state governments under the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.
(With PTI Inputs)
