Qutub Minar will not Tilt More

Minister of State for Culture and Tourism (Independent Charge) and Minister of State for Civil Aviation Dr. Mahesh Sharma in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today told that,

"As per the survey carried out by Survey of India, Dehradun, the mean rate of annual change in tilt of Qutub Minar is 3.5 seconds per year with regards to its base centre. To further prevent this negligible tilt, the entire base of Qutub Minar was water tightened to ensure that water does not percolate into the foundation of the monument."

While this was done some architectural members of Hindu and Jain Temple were found during the course of conservation and scientific clearance. Some of these members are on display in the Qutub Complex and the rest are kept in safe custody within the same complex.

No excavation has been carried out in Qutub Complex. Only scientific clearance or conservation was carried out as per requirement.

Implement acceptable recommendations of High Powered Committee on Akademies:

Minister of State for Culture and Tourism (Independent Charge) and Minister of State for Civil Aviation Dr. Mahesh Sharma in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today also informed that,

"Government has already decided to implement most of the acceptable recommendations of High Powered Committee on Akademies and other institutions under Ministry of Culture subject to maintaining the autonomous character of the Akademies and other institutions as per their Memorandum of Association or Deed or Rules and Regulations etc."

He further informed that,

"Necessary orders or instructions have since been issued by the Ministry to Akademies and other institutions to initiate necessary action for implementation of recommendations concerning them after obtaining approval of their Governing Body or Executive Council etc, as the case may be. Some Institutions namely National School of Drama (NSD), Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) and Centre for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT) have taken approval of their competent authority for implementation of the recommendations accepted by them."

Adoption of Monuments by Corporate Houses:

As the Government of India encourages Public Private Partnership (PPP) for conservation, restoration and environmental development of protected monuments and sites under the aegis of National Culture Fund (NCF), a Trust under the Ministry of Culture has been formed.

As of now 14 public sector units have come forward for the maintenance and development of monuments, including World Heritage, Sites, declared as of national importance.

The list of the PSUs who have come forward to maintain and develop monuments are:
Steel Authority of India Ltd.; The Shipping Corporation of India Ltd.; BHEL; GAIL; STC; Bokaro Steel Plant; M/s. PEC Ltd.; Indian Oil Foundation; UCO Bank, Kolkata; State Trading Corporation Ltd.; GAIL; NTPC; ONGC and SBI, Kolkata will maintain and develop following monuments:

1. Monuments at Lodhi Garden;
2. Lauriya Nandangarh, West Champaran;
3. Yusuf Quattal Mosque, New Delhi;
4. Sun Temple; Kanheri Caves, Mumbai;
5. Group of Temples, Khajuraho;
6. Kolhua and Vaishali;
7. Warangal Fort, Warangal;
8. Hidimba Devi Temple;
9. Gol Gumbaz, Bijapur;
10. Tughlaqabad Fort;
11. Groups of Monuments, Mandu (MP);
12. Group of Temples, Vikramshila, Bihar;
13. Archaeological Site, Lalitgiri/ Dhauli (Orissa);
14. Ahom Monuments;
15. Hazardwari Palace;
16. Temples at Mahabalipuram;
17. Swantantra Sangram Sangrahalaya, Red Fort, New Delhi;
18. Shiva Templa and Malikarjuna Temple, Karjat, Ahmednagar, Maharastra; and
19. Jai Prakash Yantra, JantarMantar, Delhi