Three Telangana monuments among 414 facing encroachments nationwide
HYDERABAD: Three centrally protected monuments and sites in Telangana are among 414 across the country facing encroachment, Union culture and tourism minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat informed the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, as reported by DC.
However, the government did not disclose the names of the three monuments in Telangana in its written reply.
Shekhawat said the country has 3,688 ancient monuments and archaeological sites of national importance. Of these, 414 face encroachment.
The minister said the government was integrating monument records with state land records wherever required. It is carrying out the exercise in coordination with the respective state governments.
Warangal Fort faces repeated encroachment concerns
Union minister G Kishan Reddy had earlier raised concerns over encroachments at Warangal Fort. He wrote to Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy seeking the removal of encroachments and action against those occupying fort lands.
Reddy said the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) had issued repeated notices since 2022. However, unauthorised constructions continued. Encroachments have also affected portions of the fort’s earthen wall.
Revenue records continue to show the fort lands as government property instead of ASI land. This has complicated efforts to remove the encroachments, according to the supplied information.
The Warangal district administration has recently started mapping land under the control of the ASI and the state heritage department. The exercise aims to prevent further encroachments.
Concerns around Thousand Pillar and Ramappa temples
Heritage activists and officials have also raised concerns over encroachment pressures around the Thousand Pillar Temple in Hanamkonda and the Ramappa Temple complex in Mulugu district.
Both are ASI-protected monuments. Ramappa is also a Unesco World Heritage Site.
At the Thousand Pillar Temple, delays in transferring attached land to the heritage department have left the property vulnerable to disputes and encroachments.
At Ramappa, concerns centre on illegal structures and weak enforcement of the buffer zone. Conservationists have warned that such activity could threaten the temple’s foundation.
Charminar, Qutb Shahi tombs also face concerns
Other protected monuments in Telangana have also faced allegations of encroachment and unauthorised activity.
At the Charminar, heritage activists have raised concerns over structures and commercial activity near the monument, including the area around the Bhagyalakshmi temple.
The ASI had earlier sought the removal of unauthorised structures, including a police shed and a temporary room beside the temple.
Activists have also raised concerns over unauthorised constructions in the prohibited and regulated zones around the Qutb Shahi tombs.
Alampur and Golconda face boundary concerns
At Alampur, heritage conservation concerns have focused on encroachments and pressure on lands attached to the historic temple complex.
Officials and activists have said the lack of clearly demarcated monument boundaries and revenue maps has made enforcement difficult.
ASI records reportedly put the number of encroachments around Golconda Fort at about 300. Heritage activists, however, have claimed the number could exceed 2,000. The higher figure has not been officially confirmed.
Reports have also raised concerns over unauthorised constructions in the regulated zone around the fort. Questions have also emerged over the exact extent of its protected boundaries.
ASI Hyderabad unaware of three monuments
When contacted about the three Telangana monuments mentioned in the written reply, ASI Hyderabad Superintendent Nikhil Das said he was not aware of the monuments.
He also said he had not shared any information about encroachments on protected monuments.
