Parliament Question: Conservation and Development of Ancient Heritage of Bhagalpur and Kahalgaon

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †193 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.07.2026 CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF ANCIENT HERITAGE OF BHAGALPUR AND KAHALGAON †193. SHRI AJAY KUMAR MANDAL: Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state: (a) whether it is a fact that several ancient and historical heritage sites in Bhagalpur district of Bihar, especially in Kahalgaon and its surrounding areas are neglected and awaiting conservation and development; (b) if so, whether the Government has taken cognizance of the demands received regarding the comprehensive conservation, modernization, and tourism development of heritage sites such as the ancient tomb of Makhdoom Shah located in Kahalgaon, BateshwarDham associated with religious faith, the historical ‘Teen Pahadi’ site situated in the stream of River Ganga, Shankar Sthan of Naugachhia and the approximately 250-year-old historical well located in Narayanpur; and (c) the details of the schemes sanctioned by the Government so far for the archaeological conservation, structural rejuvenation, development of tourist infrastructure (roads, lighting, amenities, etc.), research and documentation of the aforementioned heritage sites? ANSWER MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT) (a) There are 70 Protected Monuments and sites under the jurisdiction of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in the State of Bihar including 4 monuments in Bhagalpur district. ASI undertakes conservation of these Monuments and sites under the National Conservation Policy, 2014 and the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (AMASR) Act, 1958, along with the rules framed thereunder. Conservation and day to day maintenance, up keeping of all these monuments and sites are being carried out in a regular way as per the need and availability of resources. No monument is neglected and awaiting for the conservation and development. All monuments are in a good state of preservation. (b) Ancient tomb of Makhdoom Shah located in Kahalgaon, BateshwarDham associated with & religious faith, the historical “Teen Pahadi” site situated in the stream of River Ganga, Shankar (c) Sthan of Naugachhia and the approximately 250-year-old historical well located in Narayanpur are not under the jurisdiction of ASI and there is no scheme sanctioned by the ASI for the archaeological conservation, structural rejuvenation, development of tourist infrastructure (roads, lighting, amenities, etc.), research and documentation of these sites. However, there is one centrally protected monument namely Rock Temple at Kahalgaon situated on one of the ‘Teen Pahadi’ situated in the river Ganga. -----