Parliament Question: Excavation of Sites by ASI

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 216 ANSWERED ON-20.07.2026 EXCAVATION OF SITES BY ASI 216 SHRI T R BAALU: Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state: (a) the details of sites where Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is doing excavation across the country along with expenditure incurred thereon and the timeline set for completion of works; (b) the details of historical findings discovered from the archaeological projects carried out during the last five years and scientific validations thereof; and (c) the details of any court orders with regard to continuance or closing of any archaeological projects during the last five years and the action taken thereon? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT) (a) The details of sites where Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is doing excavation across the country along with expenditure is given as Annexure. (b) The details of archaeological projects carried out during the last five years by ASI. Year Permission issued 2021-22 24 2022-23 31 2023 19 2024 22 2025 25 Total 121 During excavation structural remains, burials, pottery and antiquities such as coins, beads, ornaments, agricultural tools, bone objects etc. have been unearthed and as per set practice, samples are sent to various institutions for scientific validations whenever required. (c) There is no court order regarding the continuation or closure of any archaeological projects during the last five years.ANNEXURE ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (A) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 216 FOR 20.07.2026. DETAILS OF ON GOING EXCAVATIONS CARRIED OUT BY ASI ACROSS THE COUNTRY Sl. Name of the site Expenditure No. (As on date) 1. Villages in Vallabhipur Taluka in Bhavnagar, District Bhavnagar, Rs. 93, 34,443/- Gujarat 2. Hanuman Timbo, Pachhrgam, Vallabhipur Taluka, Bhavnagar, Gujarat 3. Thapnath Mahadev Hill top and foothill Umrala, Gujarat 4. Agroha, District-Hissar, Haryana Rs. 1,26,51,272/- 5. Dwarka, Gujarat Rs. 1,00,54,958/- 6. Brahmagiri/Haneya, District- Bhitradurga, Karnataka Rs. 9,34,259/- 7. Sari Deul Complex, Bhubaneswar Locality, Khordha District, Rs. 2428505/- Odisha 8. Morabandar area of the Elephanta Island, Uran Tehsil, Raigad Rs. 99,17,321/- District, Maharashtra 9. Ancient site Lothal, Saragwala village, Ahmedabad District, Gujarat Rs. 69, 34,479/- 10. Rakhigarhi, Narnaund Tehsil, Hisar District, Haryana Rs. 2,16,25,300/- 11. Piprahwa (Ganwaria) Siddhartnagar Uttar Pradesh Rs. 54,35,187/- 12. Ashok Rock Inscription (Fort Jaugada), Pandya, Purushottampur Rs. 34, 51,306/- Ganjam Odisha 13. Pre-Historic Site, Janampet, Janampet Locality, Badradri Rs. 20,00,000/- Kothagudam District, Telangana 14. Remains of Ancient fort of Garh locally known as Raja Bali ka Rs.17,19,592/- Garh, Balirajgarh, Madhubani District, Bihar 15. Habitation mounds at Kumarikkalpalayam, Uthukuzhi taluk, Rs. 27,30,782/- Tiruppur District, Tamil Nadu 16. Kamalapura, Kamalapura Locality, Vijayanagara District, Rs. 3,09,345/- Karnataka *****