‘State has no plan to protect monuments’

The report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India depicts a sorry state of affairs in Gujarat in the field of preservation and conservation of monuments and antiquities. CAG reported that since June 2008, no monument has identified for protection by state.
CAG has found grave deficiencies in the manner in which preservation of monuments was being carried out in Gujarat, despite the state having a vast cultural heritage.

CAG has reported, “Survey, excavation and research works were almost negligible. There was no long-term plan for preservation and conservation of monuments. Projects taken up for conservation of monuments were not completed resulting in funds remaining unutilised.”

CAG has also rued the absence of periodical inspection for timely identification of damage, deterioration, encroachment, vandalism etc. in Gujarat. “Two monuments were found to have been encroached upon.”

It has been found that two groups of Buddhist caves had not been excavated despite these having been declared as protected monuments. “The management of antiquities found during excavations was improper as some were found dumped in spaces available in offices,” the report reads. CAG has also reported that key posts at Department of Archaeology and Department of Museums were lying vacant and it resulted in no staff available for watch.