Lok Sabha Question No. 115 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-01
Subject: Preservation and Conservation of Archaeological Monuments in Vellore
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Thiru D M Kathir Anand

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.115 TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.12.2025

## PRESERVATION AND CONSERVATION OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL MONUMENTS IN VELLORE

## 115. SHRI THIRU D M KATHIR ANAND:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  any  plans  to  preserve  and protect  Archaeological monuments in Vellore Lok Sabha Constituency and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the details of the steps taken/being taken by the Government to provide adequate funds to the centrally protected monuments in Vellore Lok Sabha constituency;
- (c) whether the Government has taken any measures to announce Vellore Fort as UNESCO World Heritage Monument and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government has any proposal to involve Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)  and  cultural  Research  organisations  with  Public  Private  Partnership  adoption and protection of centrally protected monuments in the country; and
- (e) If so, the details thereof along with the list of monuments adopted under this scheme?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) There are 08 centrally protected monuments/sites under the jurisdiction of
- & Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in Vellore Lok Sabha Constituency. Conservation,
- (b) preservation and  maintenance  of  these  centrally  protected  monuments/sites  is  a continuous process and is taken up as per the requirement and availability of resources. All  the  monuments  are  in  a  good  state  of  preservation.  The  details  of  the  expenditure incurred  for  conservation  and  maintenance  of  these  08  monuments/sites  is  given  in Annexure-I.
- (c) Any site to be declared as a World Heritage Monument need to be first included in the Tentative  List  of  the  World  Heritage  on  the  basis  of  Outstanding  Universal  Values integrity  and  authenticity  criterion  specified  as  per  the  Operational  Guidelines  for  the implementation  of  the  World  Heritage  Convention. As  of  now,  no  proposal  has  been received to include the Vellore Fort in the Tentative List.
- (d) Adopt  A  Heritage  2.0  program  for  protected  monuments  of  national  importance,  was
- & launched  on  4.9.2023  to  create  a  framework  for  engaging  with  private/public  sector
- (e) companies and NGOs/ Trusts/ Societies, etc., to develop/provide a group of amenities at protected monuments to enhance visitors' experience and make them visitor-friendly. As of  date,  a  total  of  29  MoUs  have  been  materialized,  the  details  of  which  are  given  in Annexure-II.

## STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (a)  &  (b)  OF  THE  LOK    SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 115 FOR 01.12.2025

The details of the expenditure incurred for conservation and maintenance of 08 centrally protected monuments/sites in Vellore Lok Sabha constituency during the last five years and current financial year.

| Sl. No.   | Name of the Monument                                   | Financial Year   | Financial Year   | Financial Year   | Financial Year   | Financial Year   | Financial Year             |
|-----------|--------------------------------------------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|----------------------------|
| Sl. No.   | Name of the Monument                                   | 2020-21          | 2021-22          | 2022-23          | 2023-24          | 2024-25          | 2025-26 (Up to 25.11.2025) |
| 1.        | Choleswara Temple, Melpadi                             | 286699           | 1390             | 1334703          | 2095515          | 226349           | 182087                     |
| 2.        | Somanatha Temple, Melpadi                              | 166784           | 305317           | 1772155          | 807660           | 241759           | 376410                     |
| 3.        | Subramania Temple, Vallimalai                          | 142627           | 179407           | 197243           | 201872           | 223929           | 188537                     |
| 4.        | Jain Sculptures & Inscriptions on the hill, Vallimalai | 52392            | 0                | 69296            | 277260           | 0                | 0                          |
| 5.        | Fort, Vellore                                          | 735824           | 7287064          | 11577456         | 10119265         | 8378975          | 6780075                    |
| 6.        | Jalakanteswara Temple, Vellore                         | 190929           | 2676655          | 440652           | 2442032          | 638176           | 640326                     |
| 7.        | Old Mosque inside fort, Vellore                        | 85612            | 268129           | 202043           | 141760           | 275180           | 172194                     |
| 8.        | Ranganatha Temple, Erukkampattu                        | 122022           | 4378             | 70167            | 728029           | 225940           | 163260                     |

The  details  of  the  expenditure  incurred  for  Scientific  Conservation  Works  of  centrally protected monuments/sites in Vellore Lok Sabha constituency during the last five years and current financial year.

|   S. No. | Name of Scientific Treatment and Preservation Projects                                    | Financial Year   |   Expenditure Incurred |
|----------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------|------------------------|
|        1 | Scientific Conservation and Preservation of Jalakanteswara Temple, Vellore, Vellore Dist. | 2021-22          |                2609871 |
|        2 | Scientific Conservation and Preservation of Somanatha Temple, Melpadi, Vellore Dist.      | 2023-24          |                 930362 |

## STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (d)  &  (e)  OF  THE  LOK    SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 115 FOR 01.12.2025

## The details of MoUs materialized under Adopt A Heritage 2.0 Program

|   S. No. | Name of Monument                            | Entity                                                       | State           |
|----------|---------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------|
|        1 | Agra Fort, Agra (UP)                        | Ease My Trip Foundation                                      | Uttar Pradesh   |
|        2 | Mehrauli Archaeological Park, Delhi         | Sabhyata Foundation                                          | Delhi           |
|        3 | Safdarjung Tomb, Delhi                      | Sabhyata Foundation                                          | Delhi           |
|        4 | Western Group of Temples, Khajuraho         | Ease My Trip Foundation                                      | Madhya Pradesh  |
|        5 | Kailasanatha temple, Kanchipuram (TN)       | Cholamandalam Investment and Finance Company Limited (CIFCL) | Tamil Nadu      |
|        6 | Sun temple, Konark, Puri (Odisha)           | Ease My Trip Foundation                                      | Odisha          |
|        7 | Elephanta Caves, Raigarh (Maharashtra)      | Mahesh Enterprises and Infra India Private Limited           | Maharashtra     |
|        8 | Upper Fort Aguada, Goa                      | Drishti Lifesaving Pvt Ltd                                   | Goa             |
|        9 | Purana Qila, Delhi                          | Sabhyata Foundation                                          | Delhi           |
|       10 | Qutub Minar, Delhi                          | Ease My Trip Foundation                                      | Delhi           |
|       11 | Humanyun's Tomb, Delhi                      | Sabhyata Foundation                                          | Delhi           |
|       12 | Jantar Mantar                               | Powerlinks Transmission Ltd                                  | Delhi           |
|       13 | Group of Monuments, Hauz Khas               | Tata Power Trading Pvt Ltd                                   | Delhi           |
|       14 | Ugrasen ki Baoli                            | Zee Aakash                                                   | Delhi           |
|       15 | Delhi Gate                                  | Redtape Ltd                                                  | Delhi           |
|       16 | Kashmere Gate and Mori Gate                 | Redtape Ltd                                                  | Delhi           |
|       17 | Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka                  | HEG Ltd                                                      | Madhya Pradesh  |
|       18 | Ajmeri Gate                                 | Redtape Ltd                                                  | Delhi           |
|       19 | Madrasa Mahmud Gawan                        | Shaheen Group of Institutions                                | Karnataka       |
|       20 | Kamalapur Museum                            | JSW Foundation                                               | Karnataka       |
|       21 | Tomb of Khan-i-Khana                        | Inter Globe Aviation Pvt Ltd (Indigo)                        | Delhi           |
|       22 | Tomb of Najaf Khan                          | Sawasdee Projects Pvt Ltd                                    | Delhi           |
|       23 | Padma and Rani Talabs at Ranthambore Fort   | Bisleri International Pvt Ltd                                | Rajasthan       |
|       24 | Baori Abaneri                               | Bisleri International Pvt Ltd                                | Rajasthan       |
|       25 | Baori Neemrana                              | Bisleri International Pvt Ltd                                | Rajasthan       |
|       26 | Budha Budhi pond at Kalinjar Fort           | Bisleri International Pvt Ltd                                | Uttar Pradesh   |
|       27 | Development of audio guides at 18 monuments | Resbird Technologies                                         | Multiple states |
|       28 | Red Fort                                    | Dalmia Bharat Limited                                        | Delhi           |
|       29 | Aga Khan Palace                             | DCB Bank                                                     | Maharashtra     |

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