Parliament Question: Preservation and Promotion of Cultural Heritage of Tamil Nadu

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4875 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.03.2026 PRESERVATION AND PROMOTION OF CULTURAL HERITAGE OF TAMIL NADU 4875. SHRI C N ANNADURAI: SHRI NAVASKANI K: SHRI SELVAM G: Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has supported key cultural heritage preservation and promotion initiatives in Tamil Nadu during the last three years; (b) the details of major projects undertaken for conservation of monuments, heritage structures, traditional art forms and cultural institutions in the said State along with project-wise budgets allocated funds released and utilised; (c) whether these initiatives have contributed to safeguarding tangible and intangible heritage, including classical arts, folk traditions and temple-related cultural practices of Tamil Nadu; (d) whether the Government has assessed the outcomes, such as increased public access, community participation, skill transmission and cultural tourism; and (e) whether the Government proposes to further strengthen collaboration with State agencies, local bodies, academic institutions and community organisations to ensure sustainable preservation, documentation and promotion of Tamil Nadu’s rich cultural heritage and if so, the details thereof? ANSWER MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT) (a) There are 412 centrally protected monuments/sites under the jurisdiction of to Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in Tamil Nadu. ASI takes up conservation and (d) preservation works of these monuments/ sites as per the need and availability of resources subject to the National Policy for Conservation and it is a continuous process. Monuments are regularly inspected by the technical team of ASI and conservation works are undertaken on priority basis. Details of major conservation works undertaken by ASI in the State of Tamil Nadu during the last 3 years are given at Annexure – I. As part of promotion initiatives, ASI, organize cultural programs and heritage walks, special cleaning campaigns during special occasions. The details of budget allocated and utilised by ASI in the State of Tamil Nadu forconservation during the last 3 years are given below:-. (Amount in Crores) S. Year Allocation Expenditure No. incurred 1. 2022-23 19.95 19.95 2. 2023-24 22.50 22.50 3. 2024-25 18.95 18.94 The Government of India has set up South Zone Cultural Centre (SZCC) at Thanjavur (Tamil Nadu) to preserve and promote various forms of folk art and culture of its member States. SZCC organizes various cultural activities and programmes in its member States on regular basis for which annual grant-in-aid is provided to them. The grant-in-aid released to SZCC during the last three years is as under: (Amount in Crores) Year Amount released 2022-23 Rs. 9.95 2023-24 Rs. 21.43 2024-25 Rs. 20.49 The major cultural activities/ programmes organized by SZCC during the last three years are AshadaNavarathriVizha, Cultural Festival at Raj Bhawan (Chennai), Pongal Celebrations, Quila Aur Kahaniya Programme, Annual Margazhi Music festival, Abirami Anthathi (Vanishing Artform), Summer Festival, Namma OoruThiruvizha(Chennai Sangamam), Indian Dance Festival and Kamba Ramayana. SZCC also run Guru Shishya Parampara Scheme where traditional masters train young disciples to ensure continuity of cultural knowledge which helps artistes, researchers and community bearers to safeguard folk traditions of Tamil Nadu. As and when major cultural events/ festivals are organized by State Government of Tamil Nadu, SZCC participates in these events/ festivals by way of providing cultural troupes on their request. (e) ASI collaborates with State agencies, local bodies and academic institutions for preservation and promotion of Tamil Nadu’s rich cultural heritage.ANNEXURE -I STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) to (d) OF THE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4875 FOR 23.03.2026. Details of major conservation works undertaken by ASI in the State of Tamil Nadu during the last 3 years 2022-23 S. Name of Monument Details of major conservation works undertaken No. 1. Old temple with apsidal Providing weather shield to temple vimanas and stone flooring gopuram, Manimangalam De-silting the water tank 2. Apathasahayeswara Temple at Restoration of outer prakara wall towards northern side of Sendamangalam temple. 3. Brahmapuriswara Temple, Restoration of outer prakara wall towards northern side of Brahmadesam temple. 4. Venkataramana temple, Gingee Providing stone flooring for southern side cloister mandapa. 5. Kailasanatha temple, Providing stone apron with kerb stone around the temple prakara Kanchipuram wall, and repairs to the temple drains. 6. Chandramouliswara temple, Providing new MS grill fencing, painting of wooden doors, Nattery stone benches etc. 7. Monolithic rock cut temple, Providing fencing around the monolithic rock cut temple. Mahendravadi 8. Iravateneswara temple, Repairs to the ancient well, removing debris, damaged MS Kanchipuram grills, plastering, damaged flat tiles etc. strengthening minor cracks, mending and strengthening worn out panel of stucco, painting of door, MS Grills. 9. Large Siva temple Providing stone flooring, Plastering to the outer prakaara wall, (Apathsahayeswara temple) Providng MS grill gate for Vinayaga sub shrine. Thenneri 10. Valeeswarar temple, Water Tightening to the leaking terrace over the middle portion Valikantapuram of terrace. 11. Veerabadhra temple, Restoration of side revetments of Veerabadhra temple tank Chinnakavandanur 12. Jalakanteswara temple, Vellore Cleaning the drainage/sewage, painting to the old MS grills, providing barbed wire fencing and providing MS grill fencing with necessary MS grill gates around the temple. 13. Ranganatha temple at Providing granite stone flooring, stone slabs and reconstruction Erukampattu of bulged revetment wall etc. 14. Choleeswara temple, Melpadi Providing granite stone flooring, water tightening to the mandapa terrace and providing MS grill fencing with dwarf wall etc. 15. Jain temple Thirumalai Providing granite stone flooring infront of the pathway, plastering to the walls, lime flooring, reconstruction of brick slope masonry, construction of masonry wall, providing MS grill fencing, MS gate and roller gate and painting to the old MS grill fencing etc. 16. Munkudimiswarar temple, Upgradation of existing fencing and laying of stone pathway Ponvilainthakalathur towards southern side. 17. Aleva Shore temple, Construction/repairs to the existing compound wall towards Mamallapuram north west corner, Resetting stone Pathway, Painting work etc. 18. Earth work excavation for exposing the original plinth level of Rajendracholiswara Temple at the monument for proper drainage system, providing new stone Ponnamaravathy flooring. 19. Parthasarathy and Krishna Re-setting undulated stone flooring, Providing apron to the sub-Temple at Parthivapuram shrines, Repairs to the doors and wooden works etc. 20. Brihadiswara Temple, Providing Laying brick flooring to the pathway Gangaikondacholapuram 21. Pre-Historic Remains at Providing roof at B-site area including providing toughened Adichanallur glass at the top of the trench to make the trench visible inside. 22. Stone and brick fort, Tirumayam, Restoration of fortification wall in the northeast corner and pointing work at the western side of fort wall 23. Soundararajaperumal temple, Water tightening to the terrace of the temple and providing stone Irumbanadu apron around the structure. 24. Sikkanathaswamy temple, Reconstruction of the southern wall of the temple tank and water Kudumiyanmalai temple tightening the terrace of mahamandapa. 25. Siva temple at Panangudi Providing MS grill fencing over the dwarf wall all around the protected area. 26. Stone idols of Devi, Vishnu and Reconstruction of main shrine wall in granite stone as per old Siva temple at Rasipuram clue and design including core filling. 2023-24 S. Name of Monument Details of major conservation works undertaken No. 1. Narasimhaswami and Water tightening of leaky terrace, repairs to the drain, and Ranganathaswami Temples, providing tree-guards. Namakkal 2. Two rock cut cave temples at the Raising of existing grill fencing north east corner of the KoneriPallam tank at Mamallapuram 3. Sri Apathsahayeswara Temple, Resetting/Providing stone flooring in cloister mandapa towards Sendamangalam Southern side. 4. Fort and Temples on the Hill, Providing pathways connecting entrance gate to mandapa, Chinnakavandanur aprons, restoration of fallen breached portion of fortification wall. 5. Rock-Cut Siva Temple Water tightening the roof terrace of mandapa areas of sub (Sathiyagiriswara Shrine) at shrines. Thirumayam 6. Rock-Cut Vishnu Temple Water tightening the roof terrace of mandapa areas of (Sathyamurthi Shrine) at subshrines. Thirumayam 7. Siva temple, Varappur Water tightening to the terrace of main shrine mahamandapa, Providing stone apron around the structure, Water tightening the terrace of amman shrine. 8. SreeValeeswara Temple, Removing damaged capital and providing new capital including Thiruvaleeswaram remove the slab and leaked water tightening, re-fixing the slab and water tightening the terrace. 9. Boulder Stone Bed and Brahmi Water tightening the roof terrace of main mandapa, Inscriptions on the hill and Rock Mending and strengthening the broken/worn out panel of stucco cut Temples with Inscription at figures in the vimanam of the shrine the foot of the hill at Kunnakudi. 10. Excavated Remains of Buddhist Construction of R.R stone revetment Vihara and Temple at PallavaneswaramMelaiyur (Kaveripattinam) 11. Rajendrcholiswara Temple at Carefully de-plastering and re-plastering the terrace and Ponnamaravathy thirumathil wall including colour toning., Restoration of entrance mandapa including replacing the damaged wooden capital, joist, beams with new teakwood andrelaying the madras terrace as per original and water tightening the terrace. 12. Sivaganga Little Fort enclosing Carefully dismantling damaged brick floor and laying new the Great Temple, Thanjavur brick floor in the said portion of floor within the courtyard on western side between main shrine and corridor. 2024-25 S. Name of Monument Details of major conservation works undertaken No. 1. Narasimhaswami and Removing the existing leaking roof concrete and providing the Ranganathaswami Temples, new lime concrete coarse to arrest the leaking Namakkal 2. Erumbeswara Temple, Brick work, plastering work, stucco work-work completed Thiruverumbur Deplastering and plastering the Prahara coping wall at entrance steps and top of the main temple. Water tightening the terrace, pointing, painting the wooden doors, painting MS grills 3. Whole of the Siva Temple and the Carefully dismantling and removing the damaged weathering inscribed stone in the front course , Providing water tightening by providing brick jelly, mandapam, Ammankurichi concrete , plastering on top ,Disposal of accumulated debris/earth around the monument including disposal of debris far away from the monument, Mending and strengthening the broken / worn out panel of stucco figures in the vimana of Main shrine with necessary binding materials and finishing the surface, Lime pinning/ Toning up the Vimana surface using colouring materials with jaggery and galnut etc. complete 4. Rock-cut Vishnu Temple – Carefully dismantling and removing the damaged weathering (Sathyamurti shrine), Tirumayam course, Providing water tightening by providing brick jelly concrete and plastering on top with lime mortar 1:1:1(,Lime pinning/Toning vimana surface with two coats, Restoration of temple type door by the way of providing the key cups, Mending and strengthening the broken / worn out panel of stucco figures in the vimana of with necessary binding materials and finishing the surface 5. Rock-cut Siva Temple Carefully dismantling and removing the damaged weathering (Sathyyagiriswara shrine), course, Providing water tightening by providing brick jelly Tirumayam concrete, Disposal of accumulated debris/earth around the monument, Mending and strengthening the broken / worn out panel of stucco figures in the vimana of Main shrine with necessary binding materials, Lime pinning/Toning vimana surface with two coats after roughly cleaning the old surface 6. Sugrisveswara Temple, i. Pointing the stone joints, Sircarperiyapalayam ii. De-plastering the coping of damaged/dead lime plaster to the sub shrines, iii.Water tightening to the main shrine etc., *****