Lok Sabha Question No. 252 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-02-05
Subject: Shifting of Submerged Temples
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: ASHOK MAHADEORAO NETE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  252 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.02.2018

## SHIFTING OF SUBMERGED TEMPLES

## Ϯ 252. SHRI ASHOK MAHADEORAO NETE:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken any steps for the excavation and shifting of temples submerged in lakes/ rivers in various States in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the details of such temples/ historical sites identified in this regard, State/ UT-wise;
- (c) whether the Government is considering to excavate and reinstate such temples/ sites; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR CULTURE & MINISTER OF STATE FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE.

## (DR.  MAHESH SHARMA )

- (a) The State/UT-wise details steps taken by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in respect
- & (b) of  the  temples/historical  sites  which  are  submerged  in  lakes/rivers  are  enclosed  at Annexure.
- (c) No such proposal is under consideration by the Archaeological Survey of India.

&

(d)

## ANNEXURE

## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) & (b) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. Ϯ252 FOR 05.02.2018

THE STATE DETAILS STEPS TAKEN BY ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA (ASI) IN RESPECT OF THE TEMPLES/HISTORICAL SITES WHICH ARE SUBMERGED  IN LAKES/RIVERS

Sl. No

State

1. Samadhi of Srimant Baji  Rao Peshwa-I,  Raverkhedi, District Khargone  is  coming  under  the  submergence  of  Maheshwar Project. It is envisaged to construct a retaining wall around the monument to save it from submerging in water.
2. In the year 2003-07 the temple of Choubis Awtar, Mandhata, District Khandwa was transplanted to a different locality which was  coming  under  the  submergence  construction  area  of Omkareshwar dam.
3. ASI  carried  a  small  scale  excavation  in  the  year  1987-88  at Balikeshwara, a medieval temple site situated on the left bank of  river  Narmada  with  a  view  of  establishing  the  cultural sequence of the site before its submergence due to the Indira Sagar Project across the Narmada.
4. In the same  project  the  ASI carried out a small scale excavation  at  Chandel,  Dist.  East  Nimar  (Khandwa)  with  a view  to  exposing  the  plan  of  temple  and  to  ascertain  earlier phases. The temple facing west and dedicated to one of the Saptamatrikas-Chamunda is situated on the western outskirts of the village Chandel in the Khandwa Taluk.
5. Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has received a request from the Department of Language, Art and Culture, Government of Himachal Pradesh for relocation of a group of Temples submerged in Bhakra Dam reservoir (Govind Sagar Lake) at Bilaspur, District Bilaspur (H.P.) and to declare them as monuments of national importance. ASI is presently looking into the feasibility of the project.
6. ASI  documented  monuments  and  historical  sites  that  were prone to submergence in low lying areas of river banks in the area. The sites which were documented are:

| Kudavalui Sangameswara Temple, Alampur   | Srisailam Project    |
|------------------------------------------|----------------------|
| Nava Brahma Group of Temple,Alampur      | Srisailam Project    |
| Siva Temple,Vellatur                     | Pulichintala Project |
| Chennakesava Temple,Vellatur             | Pulichintala Project |
| Siva Tempe, Gundlapalli                  | Pulichintala Project |

Name  of  the  site  and the Project associated with it Madhya Pradesh

Himachal Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh