The sculptures housed in the State Archaeological Museum were being stored improperly, said the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India in its report.
The audit report on West Bengal's general and social sector for the year 2015-16 said the government had not formulated any guideline or manual on operation of the archaeological museums or archives.
Prolonged exposure to un-optimised temperature and humidity coupled with improper storage was affecting the conditions of antiquities, especially the metallic ones, the report said.
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The State Archaeological Museum maintained a reserve of 36,931 antiquities (apart from those on display) which included proto-historic antiquities, terracottas, sculptures, stone and stucco from the Guptas, Mauryas, Sungas, Kushanas, Palas and medieval times.
The CAG audit mentioned that storage of these antiquities were not done in adherence to the guiding principles as prescribed by the Handbook on Conservation in Museums.
The CAG observed that this was surely a matter of serious concern and there was no evidence of either of any physical verification or chemical conservation of those antiquities for years together.
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