3 Centrally Protected Telangana Monuments Face Encroachment, Centre Informs Rajya Sabha

Three centrally-protected monuments and archaeological sites in Telangana are among 414 nationwide that are facing encroachments, Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat informed the Rajya Sabha on Thursday. The central government did not disclose the specific names of the three monuments in its written reply.

Shekhawat stated that out of 3,688 ancient monuments and archaeological sites declared to be of national importance across India, 414 face encroachments. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has completed boundary surveys, geo-referencing, and digitisation of protected monuments and uploaded the data to the Bhuvan portal. Integration with state land records is also being carried out in coordination with state governments.

The minister noted that protection under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (AMASR) Act, 1958, does not mandatorily require acquisition or land ownership. The ASI's core mandate remains conservation and maintenance, with joint surveys conducted alongside local revenue officials to demarcate boundaries and take action against illegal activity.

Several heritage locations across Telangana have seen persistent disputes over illegal occupation. Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy previously raised concerns over encroachments at Warangal Fort, writing to Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy to seek the removal of unauthorised structures. While the ASI has issued repeated notices since 2022, portions of the fort's earthen wall have been encroached upon, with revenue records still listing the land as general government property rather than ASI-owned.

Encroachment issues have also been reported around other key heritage sites in the state. At the Thousand Pillar Temple in Hanamkonda, administrative delays in transferring attached lands have left areas vulnerable to disputes. Conservationists have similarly warned that unauthorised structures and weak buffer zone enforcement threaten the Ramappa Temple complex in Mulugu district. In response, the Warangal district administration recently started mapping lands under ASI and state heritage control.

In Hyderabad, heritage activists have highlighted unauthorised constructions around Charminar, the Qutb Shahi Tombs, and Golconda Fort. ASI records have cited roughly 300 encroachments around Golconda Fort, though activists claim higher figures amid unclear boundary demarcations.

When asked about the three sites cited in the Rajya Sabha response, ASI Hyderabad Superintendent Nikhil Das said he was not aware of which monuments were listed and had not shared encroachment details with the Centre.