G.R. Dt. 27th January, 2026 – Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs – Sub- Prohibition and Clearance of Encroachments from Forts and Protected Monuments in Maharashtra
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Taking steps for the Prohibition and Clearance of Encroachments from Forts and State Protected Monuments
Government of Maharashtra
Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs
Government Resolution No:- Smarake-2024/Pr.Kra.06/San.Ka-3
Hutatma Raj Guru Chowk, Madam Cama Marg,
Mantralaya, Mumbai – 400 032
Dated 27th January, 2026
Vide:-
[1] The Maharashtra Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1960.
[2] The Maharashtra Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Rules, 1962.
[3] Government Resolution in the Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, bearing No:-Smarake-2024/Pra.Kra.06/San.Ka-3, Dt. 20.01.2025.
[4] Letter from the Director of the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, bearing No:- Tantra/Atikraman/2025/1420, Dt. 18.09.2025.
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Preface:-
Under the above referred Government Resolution at Sr. No.3, a Committee presided over by the District Collector bas been constituted in each District for the clearance of encroachments from the centre and state protected forts and unprotected forts in Maharashtra. The said Government Resolution was only meant for the clearance of encroachments from the forts. However, the encroachments at the state protected monuments and the damage caused to such sites due to the unauthorised construction carried out under the garb of trade/tourism has been underlined by the Hon’ble Members of the Legislature, from time to time. Hence, the Government contemplated the matter of issuing a Revised Government Resolution for taking planned and effective steps for the clearance of encroachments from the sites of the state protected monuments, along the lines of forts in the state.
Government Resolution:-
In supersession of the Government Resolution in the Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs Dated 20.01.2025, the following State Level Committee is hereby constituted for the clearance of encroachments from the sites of such places in order to preserve and conserve the forts and state protected monuments and maintaining this cultural heritage in good condition.
Composition of the State Level Committee and its Operational Scope:-
| Sr. No. | Office Bearer | Designation |
| 1. | Hon’ble Minister, Department of Cultural Affairs | Chairman |
| 2. | Hon’ble Minister, Revenue | Joint Chairman |
| 3. | Hon’ble Minister,, Rural Development | Member |
| 4. | Hon’ble Minister, Tourism | Member |
| 5. | Hon’ble Minister, Public Works Department | Member |
| 6. | Hon’ble Minister, Forests | Member |
| 7. | Hon’ble Minister, Port Development | Member |
| 8. | Additional Chief Secretary/Principal Secretary/Secretary, Finance | Member |
| 9. | Additional Chief Secretary/Principal Secretary/Secretary, Planning | Member |
| 10. | Additional Chief Secretary/Principal Secretary/Secretary, Department of Cultural Affairs | Member |
| 11. | Additional Chief Secretary/Principal Secretary/Secretary, Urban Development (1) | Member |
| 12. | Additional Chief Secretary/Principal Secretary/Secretary, Home | Member |
| 13. | Additional Chief Secretary/Principal Secretary/Secretary, Revenue | Member |
| 14. | Additional Chief Secretary/Principal Secretary/Secretary, Rural Development | Member |
| 15. | Additional Chief Secretary/Principal Secretary/Secretary, Tourism | Member |
| 16. | Additional Chief Secretary/Principal Secretary/Secretary, Public Works | Member |
| 17. | Additional Chief Secretary/Principal Secretary/Secretary, Forests | Member |
| 18. | Additional Chief Secretary/Principal Secretary/Secretary, Port Development | Member |
| 19. | Additional Chief Secretary/Principal Secretary/Secretary, Department of Cultural Affairs | Member |
| 20. | Director of the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, Maharashtra State | Member Secretary |
| 21. | Invitee Members (Persons/Voluntary Organisations working in the field of Study, Protection and Conservation of Forts/State Protected Monuments) | 4 Members |
Operational Scope of the State Level Committee:-
* To frame a Policy for the prohibition and clearance of encroachments.
* To take steps for the effective implementation of the Policy.
* To exercise monitoring power to prevent repeated encroachments at the heritage sites.
* To study the prevailing statutes and rules pertaining to encroachments and to suggest Amendments in fullness of time.
* To take stock of the Policy and the work done by the District Level Committee, from time to time, and suggest appropriate changes.
* To impart necessary guidance to the District Level Committees and secure co-ordination in their work.
* The Department should convene a Meeting of the Committee at the interval of every 4 months. The Meeting should be held; provided one third Members are present to fulfill the quorum.
District Level Committees:-
For the prohibition and clearance of unauthorised encroachments carried out at the sites of forts and the state protected monuments in the District the following District Level Committee is hereby constituted:-
| Sr. No | Office Bearer | Designation |
| 1. | District Collector | Chairman |
| 2. | District Police Superintendent/Police Commissioner | Member |
| 3. | Chief Executive Officer, Zilla Parishad | Member |
| 5. | Commissioner, Municipal Corporation | Member |
| 6. | District Superintendent, Land Records | Member |
| 7. | Chief Officer, Municipal Council/Municipality/Nagar Panchayat | Member |
| 8. | District Conservators of Forests | Member |
| 9. | Concerned Superintendent, Archaeology Branch, Office of the Archaeological Survey of India, Government of India | Member |
| 10. | Assistant Director (Archaeology), Divisional Office, Maharashtra State Directorate of Archaeology and Museums | Member |
| 11. | Regional Port Officer, Maharashtra Maritime Board | Member |
| 12. | Non-Government Members:- (Persons/Voluntary Organisations working in the field of Study, Protection and Conservation of Forts/State Protected Monuments) | 4 Members |
| 13. | Resident Deputy District Collector | Member Secretary |
Appointment and Tenure of Non-Government Members:-
Non-Government Members on this Committee shall be separately appointed at the level of the District Collector. Tenure of the Non-Government Members shall be 2 years from the time of appointment or till the issue of next Government Resolution, whichever is earlier. Until appointment of the Non-Government Members or on the cessation of such appointment, the business of the Committee shall be continued through its Chairman and Members.
Operational Scope of the District Level Committee:-
* To take stock of the encroachments carried out at the sites of forts and state protected monuments in the State and to take steps for the clearance of encroachments from such sites. Moreover, the Committee should exercise vigilance to ensure that encroachments shall not be repeated at such sites.
* District Collectors, in co-ordination with the Department which is in possession of the concerned land, should take steps for the clearance and prohibition of encroachments from the sites of forts and state protected monuments in conformity with the provisions of the Government Resolutions or Circulars issued by the Department of Revenue and Forest, from time to time.
* Where Judicial/Quasi-Judicial Process vis-à-vis encroachments at the sites of forts and state protected monuments in the District is already in progress, it should take appropriate steps and apprise the Government, accordingly.
* The Committee should ensure that the debris/demolition waste resulting from the clearance of encroachments from the sites of forts and state protected monuments in the District is promptly disposed off. The expenditure incurred for this purpose, should be defrayed from the District Planning and Development Funds.
* A Meeting of the Committee should be held at the interval of every 3 months. Such Meeting should be held, provided one third Members are present to fulfill the Quorum of Meeting.
* Report of such Meeting should be submitted to the Government through the Director of the Archaeology and Museums.
* For the conservation and protection of the forts and state protected monuments in the District, various activities/programmes should be implemented in order to enlist voluntary help of local citizens, schools, colleges and voluntary organisations.
This Government Resolution has been made available on the website of the Government of Maharashtra viz. www.maharashtra.gov.in and its Code Number is 202601271722181023. This Resolution is attended and issued under Digital Signature.
By the order and in the name of the Governor of Maharashtra,
NANDA MARUTI RAUT – Digital Signature
[Nanda Raut]
Deputy Secretary, Government of Maharashtra
To,
[1] The Principal Secretary to the Hon’ble Governor, Maharashtra State, Raj Bhawan, Malbar Hill, Mumbai,
[2] The Additional Chief Secretary to the Hon’ble Chief Minister, Mantralaya, Mumbai,
[3] The Secretary to the Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister (Urban Development), Mantralaya, Mumbai,
[4] The Secretary to the Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister (Finance and Planning), Mantralaya, Mumbai,
[5] The Private Secretary to the Hon’ble Chairman, Maharashtra Legislative Council, Mumbai,
[6] The Private Secretary to the Hon’ble Speaker, Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, Mumbai,
[7] The Private Secretary to the Hon’ble Vice-Chairman, Maharashtra Legislative Council, Mumbai,
[8] The Private Secretary to the Hon’ble Deputy Speaker, Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, Mumbai,
[9] Private Secretaries to all Hon’ble Ministers/Ministers of State, Mantralaya, Mumbai,
[10] All Hon’ble Members of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly and Maharashtra Legislative Council,
[11] The Joint Secretary to the Chief Secretary, Mantralaya, Mumbai,
[12] All Additional Chief Secretaries/Principal Secretaries/Secretaries in Mantralaya Departments, Mantralaya, Mumbai,
[13] All Divisional Commissioners, Maharashtra State,
[14] All District Collectors, Maharashtra State,
[15] Select File, Karya.San.Ka.3.
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[Text Translated by Adv. Prakash Manohar Chalke
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