New Delhi, April 2 The government informed the Parliament on Thursday that there are 414 protected monuments and areas under the jurisdiction of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) that are "experiencing encroachment".
Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, in a written response to a query in the Rajya Sabha, also shared a list of monuments facing "chemical weathering" due to air pollution. These include the Red Fort and Qila-e-Kuhna Mosque in Delhi, the Jaisalmer Fort in Rajasthan, and the Charminar in Hyderabad.
He was asked about the number of centrally protected monuments "currently under illegal encroachment".
"There are 414 protected monuments and areas under the jurisdiction of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) that are experiencing encroachment," the Union minister said, without elaborating.
In his response, he also shared a state-wise list of ASI sites where monuments and sites face encroachment issues.
He was also asked about the budgetary allocations made for "scientific treatment and consolidation" of monuments facing chemical weathering due to air pollution during 2025-26.
"An amount of Rs 2.17 crore was allocated/expended for 'Scientific Treatment and Consolidation' of protected monuments facing chemical weathering due to air pollution during 2025-26," Shekhawat said.
The protected monuments are regularly inspected, and based on the requirement, scientific treatment is carried out to eliminate the effects of air pollution and other weather phenomena, he said.
The ASI has a total of 3,686 sites across the country.
