Parliament Question: Development of Monuments in Trichy Circle

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.5846 TO BE ANSWERED ON 30.03.2026 DEVELOPMENT OF MONUMENTS IN TRICHY CIRCLE

5846. SHRI MATHESWARAN V S:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

(a) the details of development or construction activities undertaken in Trichy circle of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Tamil Nadu, during the period from 2019 to till date, monument-wise; and

(b) the details of area of ASI land under encroachment in Trichy Circle of ASI, along with steps taken by ASI to free the encroachment, monument wise? ANSWER MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

(a) The details of development and construction activities undertaken in Trichy circle of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Tamil Nadu, From 2019 to till date, monument- wise are given at Annexure-I

(b) The details of area of ASI land under encroachment in Trichy Circle of ASI are given at Annexure-II. The District Administration and Police Authorities have been requested to take action to remove the illegal encroachments.Annexure – I STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) OF THE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5846 FOR 30.03.2026.

Details of development works undertaken by ASI, Trichy circle from 2019 till date S.No. Name of the monument Work description

1. Dolmens at Vilpatti Fencing work

2. Uttamanathasvami Siva Temple, Kiranur Providing MS grill fencing

3. Siva Temple. , Panangudi Fencing work.

4. Jain idol and the remains of the Jain Fencing work. temple., Letchumanpatti,

5. Jain Theerthankara images now lying in Fencing work. the dry lands to the north-east of Alangudipatti hamlet.,Puliyur

6. The Kailasanatha Temple., Providing dwarf wall and fencing Vellanur,

7. A Big gun known as ‘Rajagopal’ in the Providing PNB, CNB east Rampart and thebastion.,Thanjavur

8. Brihadisvara Temple., Providing stone benches, GangaikondaCholapuram, installation of RO units.

9. Prehistoric remains., Adichanallur Providing toughened glass and shelter at the excavated site

10. Muruganatha Temple, Tirumurugan- Fencing work poondi

11. Rock-cut beds under natural rock shelter Fencing works in Ammanamalai or Samanarmalai. ,Melakuilkudy,

12. Excavated Remains of BuddhistVihara Construction of RR stone and Temple atPallanareswaram. revetment. ,Melaiyur,

13. Airavatesvarar temple, Providing CNB, PNB, dustbin, ChatramDarasuram stone benches, installation RO, solar lights, CCTV

14. Uttamanathaswami Siva temple, Kiranur Providing MS grill fencing

15. Brihadiswara Temple Providing Illumination, MS grill Gangaikondacholapuram worksDetails of construction activities undertaken by ASI, Trichy circle from 2019 till date S.No. Name of the monument Work description

1. Brihadisvara temple, Construction of Toilet block, RO Gangaikondacholapuram Drinking water facility, Publication counter, cafeteria and development of Landscaping & Horticulture works.

2. Brihadisvara temple, Thanjavur Construction of Toilet block, RO (Sivaganga Little fort enclosing the great drinking water facilities, cafeteria, temple, Thanjavur) pathways and development of landscaping & provision for bore well.

3. AR to Rock cut Jain Temple (Arivarkoil) Construction of ticket counter, at Sittanavasal cafeteria building, RO drinking water unit, toilet block, pathway, publication sale counter, cloak room, office room, demolition of old toilet blocks and development of landscaping & provision for bore well.

4. Muvarkoil with surrounding sub-shrines, Construction of ticket counter, stone enclosure and stone well on the cafeteria building, RO drinking north-east corner at Kodumbalur water unit, toilet block, pathway and demolition of old toilet blocks

5. Remains of Aivarkovil at Kodumbalur Construction of RO drinking water unit.

6. Sugrivesvara temple and tank at Construction of toilet block and Sircarperiyapalayam installation of RO drinking water unit.

7. Two rock cut temples with inscriptions in Construction of toilet block varnachimalai at ThirumalapuramAnnexure – II STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (b) OF THE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5846 FOR 30.03.2026.

The details of illegal encroachments in respect of ASI, Trichy Circle.

Sl. Name of the monument Number of Nature of No. encroachments encroachment

1. Fort on rock, Pallapatti, Dindigul 107 nos. House, Hut district

2. Sikhanathaswami Temple, 12 nos. House Kudumiyanmalai, Pudukkottai district

3. Siva (Erumbeswaraswami) Temple, 200 nos. House, Shops & Hut Thiruverumbur, Trichy district

4. Sundereswara Temple with 7 sub- 1 no. House shrines, Thirukattalai, Pudukkottai district

5. The natural cavern called Andarmatam, 3 nos. Hut Sembuthi, Pudukkottai district

6. Rock-cut Jain bas-relief and beds and a 33 nos. Hut, House & shop mutilated Jain stone image, Karadipatti, Madurai district

7. Airavatesvarar Temple, Chatram, 3 nos. Hut, House Darasuram, Thanjavur district

8. Fort Gateway, Trichy, Trichy district 49 nos. Shops extension / encroachments

9. (a) The Rock-cut Siva Temple (b) Car 19 nos. House/shop/ hut Mantapam with wheels in the front part of the plinth, Kunnandarkovil, Pudukkottai district

10. Sivaganga little fort enclosing the great 4 nos. Hut, shed temple, Thanjavur, Thanjavur district -----