Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Culture addressed a question regarding heritage sites in the Palghar District of Maharashtra requiring conservation and development. There are seven centrally protected monuments/sites in Palghar District under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). Conservation and development works are continuously carried out as per the National Policy for Conservation, 2014, based on need and resource availability. Annexure I provides specific details of conservation and development works undertaken in the last ten years.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **General Information**
* There are 286 centrally protected monuments/sites in Maharashtra, with 7 located in the Palghar District.
* All monuments/sites in Palghar District are reported to be in good state of preservation.
* **Conservation and Maintenance**
* Conservation and maintenance are ongoing processes.
* Work is conducted according to the National Policy for Conservation, 2014.
* Conservation and developmental work is based on the need for repairs and availability of resources.
* **Specific Works Undertaken (2015-2025)**
* Arnala Fort: Restoration of Pillars
* Barad Hill Caves: Restoration of Pillars
* Bassein Fort: Restoration of Bale Killa, Watertightening Repairs of Old Portuguese Remains, Conservation of St. Baptist Church, Gonsalo Garcia Church, Franciscan Church, St. Dominican Church, Expose of Hidden Structure and Water Tightening the Miserevordia, Vegetation Clearance, Fixing of M.S. Grill with Dwarf Wall from Main Gate to Sea Gate.
* Ancient Buddhist Brick Stupa, Nalasopara: Grill Fencing, Removal of Rank Vegetation Old Excavated Debris Garbage, Providing of Grill Fencing Over the Dwart Wall North Side Road Side, Providing Approach Pathway at Burud Rajacha Kot Ancient Brick Stupa, Providing Public Amenities Toilet Block Drinking Water at BurudRajachaKot Stupa.
* Bassein Fort: Repairs to Rampart Fort Wall West and North side at Bale Killa.
* Ancient Buddhist Brick Stupa, Nalasopara: Grill Fencing Remaining Area.
* Nalasopara: Providing Grill Fencing to the Remaining Area.
* Barad Hill Khunwada Caves: Providing Approach Pathway and water tightening of caves.
* Bassein Fort: Conservation and Restoration of Ancient Staircase Near the Entrance.
* Nalasopara: Conservation and Restoration of the Buddhist Stupa Burud Raja cha Kot.
* Bassein Fort: Installation of 15 Meter High Flag Mast.
Impact Analysis:
Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)
* Impact: The ASI is responsible for the continuous care, maintenance, conservation, and developmental work of the centrally protected monuments and sites in the Palghar District, ensuring their preservation in accordance with national policy and resource availability.
* Action Required: Continue to assess the condition of the monuments/sites, prioritize conservation and development work based on need and resource availability, and implement projects according to the National Policy for Conservation, 2014.
Ministry of Culture
* Impact: The Ministry is responsible for overseeing the conservation and development of heritage sites, answering parliamentary questions related to these activities, and allocating resources for these projects.
* Action Required: Continue to monitor the progress of conservation and development work, provide necessary resources to the ASI, and address any concerns raised in parliamentary questions.
Residents and Tourists of Palghar District
* Impact: Residents and tourists benefit from the preservation and development of heritage sites in Palghar, enhancing cultural tourism and providing access to well-maintained historical landmarks.
* Action Required: Respect and preserve the heritage sites, follow guidelines and regulations set by the ASI, and participate in initiatives promoting cultural tourism in the region.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Culture: The Indian government ministry responsible for the preservation and promotion of art and culture.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India.
Palghar District, Maharashtra: A district in the state of Maharashtra, India, which contains heritage sites requiring conservation and development.
Archaeological Survey of India (ASI): The Indian government agency responsible for archaeological research and the conservation and preservation of cultural monuments in India.
National Policy for Conservation, 2014: A policy document guiding the conservation and development work at centrally protected monuments/sites.
Arnala Fort, Arnala, Dist. Palghar: A fort located in Arnala, Palghar District, Maharashtra, undergoing restoration work.
Bassein Fort, Vasai: A fort located in Vasai, Palghar District, Maharashtra, undergoing various repairs and conservation efforts; also referred to as Vasai Fort.
Ancient Buddhist Brick Stupa at Nalasopara, Dist. Palghar: An ancient Buddhist site located in Nalasopara, Palghar District, Maharashtra, subject to conservation efforts including grill fencing and vegetation removal.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CULTURE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4025
TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.08.2025
CONSERVATION OF HERITAGE SITES IN PALGHAR
4025 DR. HEMANT VISHNU SAVARA:
Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware about the Heritage sites in the
Palghar District in Maharashtra which need conservation and
development; and
(b) if so, the details thereof along with the project implemented for
conservation and development for the revival of Heritage Sites in the
said district during the last ten years?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM
(SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)
(a) There are 286 centrally protected monuments/sites under the care
& and maintenance of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in the State
(b) of Maharashtra including 7 monuments/sites in Palghar District.
Conservation and maintenance of monuments/sites is a continuous
process and is taken up as per the need and availability of resources.
ASI takes up the conservation and developmental work at centrally
protected monuments/sites as per the National Policy for
Conservation, 2014 and all monuments/sites in Palgarh District are in
good state of preservation. The details of conservation and
development works carried out at the monuments/sites of Palghar
District in Maharashtra during the last ten years are given at
Annexure – I.Annexure – I
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY OF PART (a&b) OF THE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4025 FOR 18.08.2025
DETAILS OF CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT WORKS CARRIED OUT AT THE MONUMENTS/SITES OF PALGHAR DISTRICT IN
MAHARASHTRA DURING THE TEN YEARS
(Amount in Rs.)
Sl.
Name of Work 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25
No.
SR (P)/(N/P) Arnala Fort,
1 170850 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Arnala,Dist.- Palghar.
Restoration of Pillars in the
2 caves Barad Hill Dist. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Palghar.
Restoration of Bale Killa at
3 408873 0 0 617513 0 0 0 0 0 0
Bassein Fort, Vasai
Watertightening& Repairs of
the Old Portuguese Remains
4 of Prison Mesericordia Shell 101094 0 54642 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
bath at Bassein Fort, Vasai,
Dist.- palghar.
Grill Fencing at Ancient
5 Buddhist Brick Stupa at 1172428 707259 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Nalasopara, Dist.- Palghar
Repairs to Rampart & Fort
Wall West and North side at
6 544513 1092963 386994 1513400 0 0 0 0 0 0
Bale Killa at Bassein Fort,
Vasai, Dist.- palghar.
SR (P) to Bassein Fort,
7 1918907 0 13200 3395898 0 0 0 0 0 0
Vasai
Grill Fencing (Remaning
Area) at Ancient Buddhist
8 905544 1649613 0 406865 243452 0 0 0 0 0
Brick Stupa at Nalasopara,
Dist.- Palghar
Providig Grill Fencing to the
9 (Remaning Area) at 1014517 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Nalasopara, Dist.- Palghar
Conservation of St. Baptist
10 Church at Baseein Fort, 0 0 0 122495 770328 840 0 0 0 0
Dist.- Palghar
Conservation of Gonsalo
11 Garcia Church at Baseein 0 0 0 1180 14069 3353247 6789096 0 0 0
Fort, Dist.- Palghar
Conservation of Franciscan
12 Church at Baseein Fort, 0 0 0 3150 0 840 566 992028 2095285 2050678
Dist.- Palghar
Conservation of Repairs to
13 St. Dominican Church at 0 0 0 4720 23604 840 500 0 0 0
Baseein Fort, Dist.- Palghar
Providing Approach Pathway
and water tightening of
14 0 0 0 2950 11355 840 1378058 0 0 0
caves at Barad Hill
Khunwada Dist.- Palghar
Conservation and
Restoration of Ancient
15 Staircase Near the Entrance 0 0 0 0 1301303 0 0 0 0 0
of Baseein Fort at Vasai,
Dist.- Palghar
Conservation of Expose of
Hidden Structure and Water
16 Tightening the Miserevordia 0 0 0 0 0 840 500 0 0 0
at Basssein fort, Dist.-
Palghar
Conservation and
Restoration of the Buddhist
17 0 0 0 0 0 726 1430617 1737481 0 0
Stupa (Burud Raja cha Kot)
at Nalasopara, Dist.- PalgharVegetation Clearance
18 (Schedule Rate) at Bassein 0 0 0 0 0 0 866878 1263453 0 0
Fort, Vasai, Dist.- Palghar
Removal of Rank Vegetation
& Old Excavated Debris &
19 Garbage at Ancient Brick 0 0 0 0 0 0 1394595 977838 0 0
Stupa at Nalasopara, Dist.-
Palghar
Providing of Grill Fencing
Over the Dwart Wall North
20 0 0 0 0 0 0 542 1373380 854550 0
Side (Road Side) at
Nalasopara, Dist.- Palghar
Providing Approach Pathway
at Burud Rajacha Kot
21 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3736303 875057 0
(Ancient Brick Stupa) at
Nalasopara, Dist.- Palghar.
Installation of 15 Meter -
22 High - Flag Mast at Vasai 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 901356 0 0
Fort, Vasai.
Providing Public Amenities
Toilet Block Drinking Water
23 at BurudRajachaKot (Stupa) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 230567 448735 3051476
at Nalasopara, Dist.-
Palghar.
Fixing of M.S. Grill with
Dwarf Wall from Main Gate
24 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6000 2090064 7011305
to Sea Gate at Bassein Fort,
Dist.- Palghar.
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