LUCKNOW — Reassuring historians and heritage enthusiasts across the state, archaeological officials announced Tuesday that they maintain absolute, uncompromising authority over 31 centrally protected monuments that no longer physically exist.

The declaration follows the March 2026 tabling of CAG Report No. 36, which revealed that of the 487 monuments audited in Uttar Pradesh, 31 remain entirely untraceable and 456 are being operated by the state without legal title. Officials clarified that while a 15-to-1 ratio of illegally operated to properly owned sites might seem concerning to laypersons, it perfectly aligns with standard departmental protocols.

"We have a proud tradition of robust documentation," said a government spokesperson, noting that the agency successfully traced 74 out of 92 missing monuments flagged in a previous 2022 audit, though they remain pending de-notification. The spokesperson added that for the 96 sites currently occupied by encroachers, authorities are carefully monitoring the unauthorized commercial constructions to ensure they do not violate the boundaries the agency forgot to officially notify.

Pointing to their strict enforcement record, officials proudly cited recent action near high-traffic locations like the Taj Mahal and Red Fort, where a staggering one out of 24 unauthorized structures was successfully removed following the 2022 audit. "Whether a monument is buried under a shopping complex or has vanished completely from the earth," the official added, "our commitment to asserting absolute jurisdiction over it remains unwavering."