New Delhi: In order to prevent smuggling of
cultural property, the government has proposed amendments in
the Antiquities and Art Treasures Act, 1972, to make it more
stringent for the purpose.
The Ministry of Culture is preparing a bill seeking
amendments in the 1972 Act to make it more effective in
dealing with illicit trafficking of artifacts and antiquities
in today`s time, Parliament was informed today.
"With the growth of international market of art and
artifacts, the global problem of the smuggling of antiquities
has increased over the years," Minister of State for Planning
and Parliamentary Affairs V Narayanasamy said.
He said consequently the task of the law enforcing agency
in preventing illicit trafficking in such objects has become
much more difficult.
"To overcome these inadequacies and to make AAT Act 1972
more effective in preventing the illicit trafficking of
cultural properties some amendments have been proposed," he
said in response to a question in Lok Sabha without
elaborating the details of the amendments sought.
A similar bill was earlier approved by the cabinet in
2003 but before it could be introduced in Parliament the Lok
Sabha was dissolved.
"A new Bill is now under preparation taking into
consideration some latest suggestions and inputs received," he
said.
PTI
