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Pointing to the assorted aged territory collectorate buildings "being demolished", a parliamentary sheet has called for preservation of British-era practice sites which bash not autumn nether the ambit of the ASI, portion besides recommending mentation of an inventory of "non-ASI practice structures astatine risk", successful coordination with State governments.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee connected Transport, Tourism and Culture suggested to the Ministry of Culture to coordinate with railways, shipping, defence and civilian aviation ministries for preservation of practice assets specified arsenic "rail engines, ships and aircraft".
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) maintains 3,685 centrally protected monuments done 38 circles, says the panel's study 'Demands for Grants (2026-27) of Ministry of Culture', presented successful Parliament connected Wednesday (March 25, 2026).
India is location to a scope of historical properties and sites, from past temples and different monuments to medieval structures, and connected to colonial-era buildings, including those built during the British regularisation oregon the Dutch era, oregon by the French, Danish and Portuguese assemblage rulers.
While ASI-protected sites see monuments and archaeological remains, mostly from the past epoch oregon medieval period, assorted states besides person their archaeology departments which screen galore aged sites not protected nether the ASI.
A ample fig of colonial-era buildings, chiefly constructed during the British epoch and endowed with iconic architecture, proceed to beryllium utilized arsenic authorities offices specified arsenic territory collectorates, territory boards and municipal offices, too arsenic museums, libraries and railway stations, among different purposes.
However, respective of these aged buildings, contempt their historical worth and architectural character, are not protected nether immoderate authorities, leaving them susceptible to decay oregon demolition, practice experts person earlier flagged.
Under the sub-heading "Heritage Preservation Beyond ASI Jurisdiction", the study says the “committee raised the contented of British-era practice sites requiring preservation" and "specific examples cited included: 74 territory collectorate buildings being demolished; the DG station gathering successful Darbhanga (150 years old); and the Patna timepiece tower".
The Patna Collectorate complex, featuring iconic structures dating backmost to the Dutch play and the British era, was razed successful April 2022 amid protests from assorted practice lovers and appeals by experts to sphere the unprotected landmark.
Various different colonial-era unprotected buildings successful different states person besides been demolished implicit the decades.
The lasting committee besides noted the request for preservation of churches and chapels successful Goa and nationwide.
It further raised concerns astir unmanned forts, including Sasaram Fort (linked with Sher Shah Suri) successful Bihar, the study adds.
The committee has recommended that the Ministry of Culture "prepare an inventory of non-ASI practice structures astatine risk, successful coordination with authorities governments" and besides guarantee extortion of the architectural practice component, nether the projected caller infrastructure scheme, specifically addressing 100-200 year-old facades and structures, the study says.
It has besides asked the Ministry to coordinate with the Ministries of Defence, Railways, Ports, Shipping and Waterways and Civil Aviation for preservation of practice assets, adding that the request for "penal provisions for defacing oregon destroying taste property" beryllium examined and a ineligible enactment beryllium submitted to the committee wrong 1 year.
The sheet besides noted that State archaeological sites are often "poorly maintained, with contractor-driven repairs that change the archetypal quality of structures". The request for a "formal Centre-state coordination mechanics for archives and heritage" was besides emphasised, it said.
The Ministry should make and contented "standard operating procedures for conservation intervention" astatine state-level archaeological sites, the committee said.
A ceremonial mechanics for Centre-state coordination connected archives and practice preservation beryllium established, and the functioning and coordination of zonal taste centres beryllium reviewed, with findings presented to the committee wrong 90 days, the study adds.
Headed by JD(U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha, the lasting committee besides raised circumstantial concerns regarding "lack of maintenance” astatine Kumhrar successful Patna -- the tract of the past Pataliputra successful Bihar.
"Bodh Gaya Temple Management Committee Restoration Project: The Committee takes enactment of the information that ₹1.68 crore was deposited successful 2014 for a restoration project, but enactment has not been initiated, and materials are lying unused,” it said.
The committee besides noted that the historically important tract of Vaishal successful Bihar has seen "limited excavation work".
The sheet further flagged that the country down the Charminar successful Hyderabad is "being utilized arsenic a urinal".
