Dedicated force sought for protection of monuments

A parliamentary committee has sought creation of a dedicated Central force for prevention of encroachments at monuments and a separate fund for rehabilitation of encroachers.
The Standing Committee on Culture headed by TMC MP K D Singh, in its report submitted in Parliament today, suggested that in order to prevent encroachment, a separate Central force specially for protecting cultural heritage sites on the lines of CISF should be considered and it can be utilised both for central and state sites.
The 31-member committee observed that creation of a separate fund for removing of all illegal encroachments and for rehabilitation would ensure that the monument is protected and also that the encroachers are suitably rehabilitated without adversely affecting their lives.

The committee has also found that large number of vacancies and lack of adequate manpower at various levels particularly in ASI would certainly adversely affect the regular upkeep maintenance, protection and preservation of our cultural heritage.
The committee has observed that against the proposed outlay of Rs 18,609.94 crore only Rs 7,275 cr were earmarked for the 12th Five Year Plan.
"Due to severe cut, many important schemes could not be taken up in the ministry," it said.

Since three years of the Plan period have been over, the committee recommended that the remaining two years, the Plan allocation for the Culture Ministry should be hiked so that important projects do not suffer.

Taking into account poor financial condition of the State Akademis, the committee felt that central assistance could have helped a great deal in revitalising them.
The committee has recommended the ministry to take up the matter with Finance Ministry to get plan assistance for State Akademis.