Archaeological Survey of India Moves to Declare Gollala Gudi in Telangana as Monument of National Importance

The Central Government, acting through the Archaeological Survey of India, issued a statutory notification on March 6, 2026, signaling the formal intent to bring the Gollala Gudi monument under federal protection. Published in the Gazette of India as S.O. 1173(E), the notification was issued by the Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India under the authority of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958. This legislative instrument specifically targets the Gollala Gudi structure located in Palampet, situated within the Mulugu District of Telangana. The notification serves as the primary legal step in the statutory process of declaring a site to be of national importance, thereby placing it under the direct administrative and legal jurisdiction of the Central Government for conservation, maintenance, and heritage management.

The legislation provided: “In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 4 of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958 (24 of 1958), the Central Government hereby gives notice of its intention to declare the monument specified in the Schedule below to be of national importance.”

The scope of this notification encompasses a total area of 0.25 acres, specifically identified as part of Revenue Survey Number 417/3. The schedule attached to the notification meticulously defines the geographical boundaries of the protected area, noting that the site is bordered by Survey Numbers 417/3 and 417/1/2 to the North, Survey Number 417/1 to the South, and a public road to the West. By identifying the Archaeological Survey of India as the primary owner and custodian of the site, the notification ensures that any future development, excavation, or structural modification within these coordinates will be strictly regulated under the prevailing archaeological laws of the country. The notification came into force upon its publication in the Official Gazette, initiating the mandatory period for public notice and potential statutory representations.

The policy rationale behind this move stems from the legal necessity to safeguard India’s cultural and architectural heritage from encroachment, unauthorized construction, and natural decay. Under the existing statutory framework of the 1958 Act, the Central Government is empowered to assume the responsibility of protecting sites that possess significant historical, archaeological, or artistic value. Prior to this notification, the Gollala Gudi monument lacked the stringent legal protections afforded to sites of national importance, potentially leaving the ancient structure vulnerable to neglect or local land-use changes. By invoking Section 4(1) of the Act, the government addresses these statutory gaps, ensuring that the monument is preserved for future generations under a standardized federal enforcement mechanism.

This notification also serves as a formal public notice, allowing for a statutory period during which stakeholders, local residents, or interested parties may raise objections or suggestions regarding the proposed declaration. Once the period for such representations concludes and the Central Government is satisfied with the merits of the case, a final declaration will be issued, permanently substituting the site's local status with that of a nationally protected monument. This process reflects the legislative intent to balance heritage conservation with public transparency, ensuring that the transition of the site into the federal registry follows the due process of law as prescribed by the Parliament.

Keywords: Archaeological Survey of India, Gollala Gudi, Telangana Heritage, Ancient Monuments Act 1958, Palampet, National Importance, Monument Protection, Mulugu District

Geo Tags: India, Telangana District: Mulugu