Monuments identified for Clean India Campaign

The Union Ministry of Culture launched Swacch Bharat Abhiyan on 25th September, 2014 under Clean India Campaign.

It is an initiative to clean all monuments premises and ensure:

(i) no garbage can be seen in the premises;

(ii) to provide adequate amenities for visitors and to ensure that no litter is thrown inside monuments;

(iii) to sensitize visitors as well as staff in maintaining monuments clean; and

(iv) to provide waste management system.

The Campaign is followed for all centrally protected monuments in the country so that they are maintained in a good state of preservation and cleanliness.

The centrally protected monuments/sites are conserved, preserved and maintained by way of structural repairs on need basis, as per archaeological norms, subject to availability of resources. In addition to conservation, preservation, maintenance and development of environs of centrally protected monuments, creating of tourist related amenities (e.g. drinking water, toilet blocks, facilities for physically challenged, pathways, cultural notice boards/signage, vehicle parking, cloak rooms, etc.) at the centrally protected monuments/sites are the regular activities which the ASI undertakes as per needs and availability of resources.

The funds allocated for the above purposes including for cleaning of monuments during the current financial year 2015-16 is Rs.104.00 crores under Plan and Rs.52.50 crores under Non-Plan.

This information was given by the Union Minister of Culture (Independent Charge), Tourism (Independent Charge) and Civil Aviation, Dr. Mahesh Sharma in reply to an unstarred question in the Rajya Sabha today.