 bill  no 136 of  2018 the ancient monuments preservation (amendment) bill,  2018 by shri mullappally ramachandran,  mp a billfurther to amend the ancient monuments preservation act, 1904be it enacted by parliament in the sixty-ninth year of the republic of  india as follows:—short title and commencement1 (1) this act may be called the ancient monuments preservation (amendment)act,  20185 (2)  it shall come  into force on such date as the central government may, by notification in the official gazette, appoint2 after section 20c of the ancient monuments preservation act, 1904, the following sections shall be inserted, namely:—insertion of new sections 20d and 20e"20d notwithstanding anything in this act, no ancient monument held, owned or acquired by the central government or a state government shall be transferred by way of lease, sale or otherwise by that governmentprohibition of transfer of ancient monuments by the governments20e the central government or a state government, as the case may be, in whose possession an ancient monument is, shall be solely responsible for the maintenance, upkeep, improvement of profitability and development as tourist place of such ancient monuments"government to be solely responsible for maintenance of ancient monuments statement  of  objects  and  reasonsthe ancient monuments being part of our rich heritage and wealth of nation have to be preserved to uphold the nation's great traditions and history the ancient monuments preservation act, 1904 provides for the acquisition and maintenance of such properties that come under the description of ancient monuments however, the central and state governments are, of late, transferring by way of sale, lease or otherwise, properties which are ancient monuments and heritage sites of our country such transfers need to be preventedthe bill, therefore, seeks to amend the ancient monuments preservation act, 1904with a view to:—(a) prohibit transfer of ancient monuments by the central or state government by wayof lease, sale or otherwise; and(b) make the central government and the state governments to be solely responsiblefor the maintenance of ancient monumentshence this billnew delhi;mullappally ramachandranjuly 4, 2018 lok  sabha———— a billfurther to amend the ancient monuments preservation act, 1904————(shri mullappally ramachandran,  mp)mgipmrnd—602ls(s3)—25-07-2018