Madras, May 7.:The Central Government has started enforcing a scheme to keep a strict vigil over smuggling of antiquities and to prevent illegal trade in the priceless art treasures.

Steps have been taken by the Archaeological Survey of India to implement an Act that has been passed in 1972. The legislation, intended to regulate export trade in antiquities and art treasures, provides for the prevention of smuggling and fraudulent dealings in antiquities and for the compulsory acquisition of antiques and art pieces for preserving them in public places.

The Central Antique Records Unit of the Central Bureau of Investigations established in 1974 for the maintenance of records for cases relating to cultural property built up a dossier concerning 538 new criminals during 1975. The Unit now possesses a total number of nearly 5,000 indices and documents. The CBI smashed a notorious gang of idol lifters and smugglers following the recovery of the idol of Ponaraja from Jageshwar temple in U.P.

The Antiquities and Art Treasures Act, 1972 has come into force all over India since early April, 1976. According to this, those who possess antiquities such as stone sculptures, bronzes, wood carvings, ivory carvings, coins, palm leaves, manuscripts and books, of more than 75 years old, are to be registered with an officer of the State Archaeological Department. The possessor has to obtain an application form from the concerned officer and submit the details back to him, with four photographs of each object. After scrutiny, the officer will issue a certificate to the owner, who will keep a register of the antiques with him. The officer may conduct surprise checks and verify the articles and the register.

Those interested in carrying on business of antiquities should obtain a licence, paying a fee. In Madras, the licensing authority is the Superintending Archaeologist, ASI. The State Director of Archaeology has appointed seven registering officers in Tamil Nadu assigning one or two districts under the control of each one of them. They will function at Madras, Chidambaram, Thanjavur, Tiruchi, Madurai, Tirunelveli and Coimbatore. Even if any antique is to be transferred to others or elsewhere, the officer has to be approached and permission obtained. Registration for the antiques has to be completed before the first week of July (three months from the date when the Act came into force). Religious institutions, temples and Maths are not exempted from the purview of the Act.

Enquiries indicate that there has been no appreciable number of registrations but many individuals are seeking details about the procedure to be adopted.