- The project comes on the back of an acute shortage of security personnel at centrally protected monuments with the ASI recently telling the parliamentary committee probing the matter that security guards were posted at only 248 of the 3,693 CPMs.
- That comes to a dismal 6.7 percent security coverage, a matter that the committee took very seriously in its report tabled in the winter session of Parliament. “We are concerned to note that of the 3,693 CPMs, security guards are posted at only 248 — which is less than 6.7 percent of the total number of CPMs.
- The committee notes with dismay that out of the total requirement of 7,000 personnel for the protection of monuments, the government could provide only 2,578 security personnel at 248 locations due to budgetary constraints,” the report of the committee noted.
- The panel observed that budgetary constraints should not be an excuse for not providing security guards to protect India’s rich cultural heritage.
- There is a ban on construction within 100 meters of a Centrally protected monument and regulated construction within 100200 meters under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, of 1958.
Less than 7% of protected monuments have security cover, says report
