Fund, staff crunch cripples archaeology wing

Visakhapatnam: The department of archaeology and museums is not in a state to conserve and protect the monuments in Visakhapatnam division given the crunch in fund and staff it has been facing over the years. The Visakhapatnam division of the department includes the heritage and monuments located in Vizianagram and Srikakulam districts too.  Ironically, there are only three staff members for the entire Vizag division which has about 30 protected monuments, including temples and Buddhist sites.

The protected monuments in Vizag division are being taken care by the state archaeology department whereas the heritage buildings located in the city limits, and those not mentioned in the protected list, are being done by a heritage committee formed by  Visakhapatnam Urban Development Authority (Vuda) and Greater Visakha Municipal Corporation (GVMC). Assistant director of Archaeology and Museums (Vizag division) K. Chitti Babu told Deccan Chronicle that they are finding it increasingly difficult to keep track of many happenings at the field-level and also to protect and conserve protected monuments owing to the department functioning with skeletal staff and meager financial resources.

The department had seven staffers in 1985 and that has reduced to a mere three now with no new recruitment. “I have appraised the higher authorities about the staff crunch. I hope they would sanction the required posts,” the assistant director added. He also admitted that they were not getting any fund for the regular maintenance of the monuments. “We are getting fund to take up only new construction works or renovation of protected monuments like the ongoing Buddhist sites at Thotlakonda, Bavikonda and Pavuralakonda.”

The department sanctioned '3.5 crore and '1.5 crore in 2014-15 and 2015-16 respectively for renovation and development of tourist amenities. A senior employee of the department said investing in building infrastructure and ignoring maintenance would not be of any use. When it comes to protection of the monuments, the department has failed to engage security guards at many monuments and as it was unable to pay them where they were employed.

The Buddhist sites at Thotlakonda and Bavikonda on the city outskirts need 10-15 security guards each, however, fund shortage has come in the way to do so. Moreover, the department also lack an official vehicle needed for inspection duty. He said the GVMC and Vuda should give proposal to government to include protected monuments’list so that they can seek funds for conservation.