• Karnataka is pioneering a state-wide village-level survey to document all antiquities, creating the first comprehensive inventory of its kind in India, with the goal of safeguarding its rich archaeological heritage.
• The survey, completed in 119 taluks so far, aims to document inscriptions, sculptures, and monuments, geo-tagging each antiquity for detailed record-keeping and efficient management, serving as a model for other states.
• Beyond the survey, Karnataka is actively working to protect its over 800 state-protected monuments and 600 ASI-protected monuments, with plans to add 110 more to the protected list and another 1000 in the near future, utilizing a successful public-private partnership (PPP) model for conservation.
• Despite conservation efforts, including the ‘Adopt a Monument’ program, challenges remain, particularly conflicts between officials and departments which threaten heritage sites, as exemplified by the loss of heritage structures in Mysuru due to bureaucratic disputes, highlighting the importance of collaboration in heritage preservation.