Lok Sabha Question No. 2633 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-17
Subject: Preservation of Historical and Cultural sites in Tamil Nadu
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Shri Selvam G, Shri C N Annadurai

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2633

ANSWERED ON 17.03.2025

## PRESERVATION OF HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL SITES IN TAMIL NADU

## 2633. SHRI C N ANNADURAI: SHRI SELVAM G:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of historical and cultural sites in Tamil Nadu that are currently protected under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) along with their district-wise details;
- (b) the  details  of  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  for  the  preservation,  restoration  and conservation of these sites during the last five years;
- (c) the details of total funds allocated, released and utilized for the preservation of historical and cultural sites in Tamil Nadu under various Government schemes;
- (d) whether the Government has taken any steps to digitally document or promote historical sites  through  virtual  tours,  digital  archives,  or  tourism  campaigns  and  if  so,  the  details thereof; and
- (e) whether  the  Government  has  any  plans  to  nominate  new  sites  from  Tamil  Nadu  for UNESCO  World  Heritage  status  or  collaborate  with  international  organizations  for conservation efforts and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

- (a) There are 412 protected monuments and archaeological areas and remains declared as of national importance in the State of Tamil Nadu. The District-wise numbers are given at Annexure.
- (b) & Their periodic review, inspection, conservation and preservation is taken up by Archaeological  Survey  of  India  (ASI)  as  per  the  need  and  requirement  considering
- (c) availability  of  funds  and  resources.  The  details  of  allocation  and  expenditure  on  the conservation  and  maintenance  of  the  protected  monuments  and  areas  of  Tamil  Nadu during the last five years is as under:

## (amount in crore)

| Year    |   Allocation |   Expenditure |
|---------|--------------|---------------|
| 2019-20 |         9.6  |          9.6  |
| 2020-21 |         7.25 |          7.25 |
| 2021-22 |        12    |         12    |
| 2022-23 |        19.95 |         19.95 |
| 2023-24 |        22.5  |         22.5  |

- (d) ASI has prepared a digital database of its protected monuments and archaeological sites, besides  virtual  tours  of  rich  cultural      heritage  are  also  being  organized  at  various museums.
- (e) At present there is no such plan to nominate new sites/properties from  Tamil  Nadu for UNESCO World Heritage Status.

ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (a)  OF  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2633 FOR 17.03.2025.

DISTRICT-WISE NUMBER OF PROTECTED MONUMENTS AND PROTECTED AREAS  UNDER  THE  JURISDICTION  OF  ARCHAEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF INDIA IN THE STATE OF TAMIL NADU

| Sl.No.   | District        |   Number of Monument and areas |
|----------|-----------------|--------------------------------|
| 1.       | Ariyalur        |                             03 |
| 2.       | Chennai         |                             15 |
| 3.       | Coimbatore      |                             01 |
| 4.       | Cuddalore       |                             01 |
| 5.       | Dharmapuri      |                             01 |
| 6.       | Dindigul        |                             07 |
| 7.       | Erode           |                             01 |
| 8.       | Kanchipuram     |                            156 |
| 9.       | Kanyakumari     |                             05 |
| 10.      | Karur           |                             01 |
| 11.      | Krishnagiri     |                             02 |
| 12.      | Madurai         |                             08 |
| 13.      | Nagapattinam    |                             05 |
| 14.      | Namakkal        |                             02 |
| 15.      | Nilgiri         |                             01 |
| 16.      | Perambalur      |                             04 |
| 17.      | Pudukkottai     |                            109 |
| 18.      | Salem           |                             02 |
| 19.      | Sivaganga       |                             01 |
| 20.      | Thanjavur       |                             04 |
| 21.      | Theni           |                             01 |
| 22.      | Thirunelveli    |                             04 |
| 23.      | Thoothukudi     |                             03 |
| 24.      | Tiruchirappalli |                             05 |
| 25.      | Tiruppur        |                             03 |
| 26.      | Tiruvallur      |                             15 |
| 27.      | Tiruvannamalai  |                             13 |
| 28.      | Vellore         |                             17 |
| 29.      | Villupuram      |                             21 |
| 30.      | Virudhunagar    |                             01 |
| TOTAL    | TOTAL           |                            412 |

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