Bihar signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) on Thursday for the conservation of artefacts and antiquities.

The MoU was signed between IGNCA dean Pratapanand Jha and Bihar Museum deputy director Sunil Kumar Jha in the presence of Bihar Museum director-general Anjani Kumar Singh.

Speaking on the occasion, Singh, who is also chief minister Nitish Kumar’s adviser, said that a conservation lab was necessary at every museum for the protection of antiquities and for their maintenance and treatment whenever needed.

“The aim of the MoU is to first establish a conservation lab at the Patna Museum and then treat the selected artefacts displayed there. The other antiquities will be treated afterwards,” Singh said.

Bihar had approached several central agencies including the Archaeological Survey of India, the National Museum and the IGNCA for the purpose.

The IGNCA will complete the task in three years and a budget of Rs 12.75 crore has been proposed for it.

The conservation lab will be of international standards and will cater to other museums and their antiquities in future.

Bihar Museum and Patna Museum are two different museums.

While the Patna Museum is more than 100 years old, the Bihar Museum has come into existence in 2015.