378 monuments in State have only 80 security guards!
| Date :22-Apr-2019 |
By Kartik Lokhande:
In an era when many often question the need for protecting the monuments, the responsibility to protect these symbols of rich heritage and past glory rests with the Government. However, a shocking fact has come to fore that there are only 80 security guards protecting 378 monuments in Maharashtra. State Directorate of Archaeology and Museums looks after 378 monuments in Maharashtra. These include over 150 temples, 49 forts, 20 caves and others. However, only 100 of the monuments under the jurisdiction of the Directorate have got security guards. The number of security guards, including those on the rolls of the department and those provided by private agencies, is only 80! In effect, 378 monuments have got only 80 security guards. Of these 378 monuments, 78 are from Vidarbha region.
When contacted over telephone Dr Tejas Garge, Director of Archaeology and Museums, told ‘The Hitavada’ that the Directorate had already submitted a proposal to the State Government seeking increase in number of security guards to protect the monuments. “The proposal is with Finance Department and we are waiting for the nod,” he said. Asked about the reasons behind inadequate number of security guards, he explained that initially there were limited number of monuments with the Directorate. Gradually, the number of monuments increased, but the number of sanctioned strength of security guards on the establishment did not increase proportionately.
“We are following up the proposal for increasing the numerical strength of security guards and are hopeful of nod once the Model Code of Conduct for Lok Sabha elections ceases to be in effect,” added Dr Garge, who is the first archaeologist to have been appointed as Director in last 20 years. As far as Vidarbha region is concerned, 78 monuments have got only seven security guards. Five monuments in Buldhana district have one security guard. There are total 38 monuments listed with the Directorate, at Ramtek and Ambala lake in Nagpur district. These have only two security guards. Nagardhan Fort in Nagpur district has only one security guard. Nagardhan was the capital of Vakataka dynasty. The Directorate had conducted excavations at Nagardhan and is now engaged in completing the report. The monuments in Gondia district have only one security guard. Four monuments including a mosque and a dargah at Balapur have got only two security guards.
Though there are total 10 monuments in Chandrapur district, none has a security guard for protection. Further, there is a proposal to add five more monuments to the list of the Directorate. Apart from the monuments, the Directorate has the responsibility to maintain 13 museums that house 40,000 relics/antiquities. Further, it has to look after excavations also. However, it has got a budgetary constraint too. As per the information available, the Directorate had a budget of Rs 24 crore for the financial year 2018-19, as against the demand of over Rs 100 crore. Obviously, it is facing some problems with other activities.