UP tops in monuments under encroachment

New Delhi, May 16 (UNI) Out of the 3667 monuments and sites declared of national importance in the country, as many as 252 are under encroachment with Uttar Pradesh having the dubious distinction of 85 of its mounuments falling in such a category, the government today said.

In a written reply in the Rajya sabha, Tourism and Culture Minister Ambika Soni said Uttar Pradesh is followed by Karnataka with 56 monuments, Maharashtra (29), Andhra Pradesh and Delhi (14 each), Gujarat (13), Orissa (7), Haryana and Chhattisgarh (6 each), Jammu and Kashmir and Uttaranchal (5 each), Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar (2 each) and Punjab and Tripura (1 each).

The total amount of revenue earned through entrance fees for the Centrally-protected monuments was Rs 34.58 crore.

Ms Soni said the Centre seeks assistance in containing and removing encroachments from the respective state governments. ''When there are no fruitful results, action is initiated against the encroachers by filing cases in the court of law,'' she told the Upper House.

The Superintending Archaeologists of Circles have been vested with the authority of Estate Officers to issue eviction notices to the encroachers under the provisions of the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1971.

In addition, they are authorised to issue show cause notices under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958.

The minister further informed that the protected monuments are conserved and maintained by the ASI out of its budgetary allocations.

During 2005-06, various states and UTs spent nearly Rs 101.95 crore on conservation and preservation of the Centrally-protected monuments.

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