This document summarizes the response provided by the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 68, concerning the denotification of sites under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (AMASR) Act, 1958 in Uttara Kannada district, Karnataka. As of July 21, 2025, there are 32 nationally important monuments and archaeological sites in the specified district. The Ministry of Culture has received a request from Shri Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri, Member of Parliament, to denotify three sites: (i) the figure of a tiger opposite the English School at Kumta, (ii) carved stones near the temple of the Gram at Hosur, and (iii) stones (Viragals) at Bedkeni. The notification/denotification of monuments is described as an ongoing process contingent on the merits of each case.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Culture: A ministry of the Government of India responsible for the preservation and promotion of art and culture.
Ancient Monuments and Archaeology Sites and Remains AMASR Act, 1958: An Indian law providing for the preservation of ancient and historical monuments and archaeological sites and remains of national importance.
Uttara Kannada district, Karnataka: A district in the state of Karnataka, India, where national monuments are located.
Shri Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri: Member of Parliament who raised a question regarding denotification of sites under the AMASR Act.
Kumta: One of the sites in Uttara Kannada district, Karnataka, requested for denotification; location of 'Figure of a Tiger opposite the English School'.
Hosur: One of the sites in Uttara Kannada district, Karnataka, requested for denotification; location of 'Carved stones near the temple of the Gram'.
Bedkeni: One of the sites in Uttara Kannada district, Karnataka, requested for denotification; location of 'Stones Viragals'.
Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat: The Minister of Culture and Tourism who provided the answer to the parliamentary question.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CULTURE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.68
ANSWERED ON 21.07.2025
DENOTIFICATION OF SITES UNDER AMASR ACT,1958
68. SHRI VISHWESHWAR HEGDE KAGERI:
Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:
(a) the numbers of national monuments identified and listed under the Ancient
Monuments and Archaeology Sites and Remains (AMASR) Act, 1958 in Uttara
Kannada district, Karnataka;
(b) whether the Government has received any request from the Member of
Parliament or State Government of Karnataka for denotification of three sites viz.
Kumta, Hosur, Bedkeni from the said list; and
(c) if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken/being taken by the
Government?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM
(SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)
(a) There are 32 monuments and archaeological sites and remains declared as of
national importance in district of Uttara Kannada, Karnataka.
(b) A request has been received from Shri. Vishweshwar Hegde Kegeri, Hon’ble
&
Member of Parliament, for de-notification of three monuments namely: (i) The
(c)
Figure of a Tiger opposite the English School at Kumta, (ii) Carved stones near
the temple of the Gram at Hosur, and (iii) Stones (Viragals) at Bedkeni.
Notification/Denotification of Monuments from the list of Centrally Protected
Monuments is a continuous process based on the merits of the case.
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