Uttar PradeshHeritage ConservationASICAG ReportEncroachment
CAG Report Exposes Widespread Encroachment, Loss of Centrally Protected Monuments in Uttar Pradesh
Published: May 10, 2026
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A March 2026 Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report has revealed that 31 of Uttar Pradesh's 487 centrally protected monuments are untraceable, while 96 others face active encroachment, raising serious concerns over the state of heritage conservation. The report, covering 2024 data, also found that only 31 sites have proper ownership documentation, and many suffer from neglect, structural damage, or inappropriate conservation efforts. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), responsible for safeguarding these sites, continues to list missing monuments without locating them.
In Lucknow, the Imambara Shah Najaf and the adjoining Qadam Rasool monument, built in the 19th century by rulers of Awadh, are among the affected sites, now overgrown and inaccessible due to encroachment and wild undergrowth. Locals and heritage activists describe the degradation as symbolic of broader institutional failure, with children referring to the site as a 'jungle.' The ASI has initiated debris removal and ground levelling at the Bada Imambara, but similar efforts are absent at many other locations.
Allahabad High Court lawyer Syed Mohammad Haider Rizvi has filed Public Interest Litigations demanding the removal of encroachments and proper documentation of sites. Heritage experts warn that without government action, not only are structures at risk but also the broader Awadhi culture—encompassing architecture, Urdu poetry, chikankari, and traditional etiquette. Activists like Umakant Mishra allege that delisting monuments under the pretext of 'ceasing to be of national importance' is being used to mask administrative failures.
The ASI has not issued a formal response to the CAG findings. Rizvi's PILs are pending before the Allahabad High Court, which is expected to hear the matter on encroachments and monument delisting in its next session.