Heritage conservation to get a boost in 2009-2010

Conservation of heritage sites will get a boost in 2009-2010, Minister of State for Planning and Parliamentary Affairs V. Narayanaswamy, who holds the ad hoc charge of culture, told the Rajya Sabha Thursday.

He made the comment in reply to a query by members Dharampal Sabharwal and Jai Prakash Narayan Singh.

The National Commission of Heritage Sites Bill, 2009 which was introduced in Rajya Sabha Feb 26 will provide an institutional mechanism under a central legislation that would take a holistic view of protection and preservation of heritage sites in the broadest possible conceptual framework, the minister said.

It would provide a uniform legislative framework and practices that encompass all the heritage sites “in one way or the other including those which, at present, are outside the scope of the legislations”, he said.

The Archaeological Survey of India, Narayanaswamy said, however, will continue to protect, preserve and maintain the monuments declared as those of national importance and implement various provisions of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958.

"The mandate of these two establishments- the Heritage Sites Bill and the Ancient Monuments Act - is thus, quite distinct from each other,” he said.

The revenue collected from the 116 ticketed monuments under the ASI has shown a steady growth in “heritage tourism”.

In 2008-2009, the ASI earned Rs.66.68 crore and in the first quarter of 2009-2010 (April to June 2009), the returns touched Rs.10.26 crore, said a release issued by the ministry of culture.

In 2004-2005, the amount was Rs.52.19 crore.

The government spent Rs.31.86 crore in 2008-2009 for preservation of the sites, the release said.

Last updated on Jul 9^th, 2009 at 19:50 pm IST--IANS