Parliament Question: Preservation, Conservation and Promotion of Cultural Heritage in Tamil Nadu

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2524 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.08.2026 PRESERVATION, CONSERVATION AND PROMOTION OF CULTURAL HERITAGE IN TAMIL NADU 2524. SHRI SELVAM G: SHRI C N ANNADURAI: DR. RANI SRIKUMAR:: Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has implemented any schemes for the preservation, conservation and promotion of cultural heritage in Tamil Nadu during the last three years, and if so, the details thereof along with projects approved, funds sanctioned, released and utilised, district-wise; (b) the details of specific heritage conservation and development projects undertaken in Tamil Nadu for protected monuments, historic temples, archaeological sites, museums, maritime heritage, cultural landscapes and other heritage destinations, along with their present status of implementation; (c) whether the Government has assessed the impact of these initiatives on heritage conservation, employment generation, livelihoods of artisans and traditional craftsmen and tourist footfall in Tamil Nadu and if so, the details thereof; and (d) whether the Government proposes to undertake additional initiatives for the conservation of lesser-known heritage sites, promotion of cultural tourism, capacity building of artisans and sustainable heritage management in Tamil Nadu and if so, the details thereof? ANSWER MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT) (a) There are 412 Centrally Protected Monuments and Sites in the State of Tamil Nadu under to the jurisdiction of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). Conservation, maintenance (c) and development of visitor amenities at these monuments are undertaken regularly as per requirement and availability of resources. The details of funds allocated and expenditure incurred for conservation and preservation on these monuments in the last three years are given as under: (Amount Rs. in Crore) S. Year Allocation Expenditure No. 1. 2023-24 22.50 22.50 2. 2024-25 18.95 18.94 3. 2025-26 16.60 16.60 The details of developmental works carried out under National Culture Fund (NCF) and Adopt a Heritage Scheme 2.0 in the last three years are given at Annexure-I. The details of proposals received during last three years from Tamil Nadu StateGovernment for development of ASI protected monument /site along with their present status are given in Annexure-II. The Government of India, through the South Zone Cultural Centre (SZCC), organises various cultural programmes and activities in its member States with the support of annual grant-in-aid. SZCC engages folk/tribal artists, including those from Tamil Nadu, for various cultural activities and programmes organized by them. SZCC organizes major cultural events such as Salangai Naadham and the Summer Festival at Thanjavur, in addition to flagship initiative of the Ministry of Culture such as the Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav (RSM). These events provide traditional artisans and craftsmen from Tamil Nadu with a national platform to showcase and market their products, thereby generating livelihood opportunities, promoting traditional crafts and contributing to the preservation and promotion of the State’s rich cultural heritage. The number of cultural activities/programmes organized by SZCC in Tamil Nadu and expenditure incurred thereon are as under: (Amount Rs. in Lakh) Sl. Year No. of cultural activities/ Expenditure incurred No. Programmes organized in Tamil Nadu 1. 2023- 120 228.79 24 2. 2024- 131 169.43 25 3. 2025- 95 194.23 26 (d) All Centrally Protected Monuments, including lesser-known monuments are inspected periodically and conservation works are taken up based on their condition and priority, subject to availability of resources. Regular maintenance, periodic conservation and management of centrally protected monuments promotes cultural tourism, capacity building of artisans and sustainable heritage management. Further, development of the archaeological site at Adichanallur is proposed under the Development of Selected Excavation Sites and Heritage Complexes (DESH) Scheme.Annexure – I ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) to (c) OF THE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2524 FOR 03.08.2026. The details of development works done under National Culture Fund in the last three years. S.No Name of the Monument/ Name of Work Funds received State/ District from 1. Sivaganga Little fort Expanding the illumination to AVNL enclosing the Great the exterior portion of the contribution to temple, Thanjavur, prakara wall and entrance area NCF under CSR Thanjavur district, Tamil of Brihadisvara temple, initiative Nadu Thanjavur. The details of development works done under Adopt a Heritage 2.0 Scheme in the last three years in respect of ASI, Trichy Circle S.No Name of the Monument/ State/ Details of Work District 1. Airavatesvarar temple, Development of amenities by Darasuram, Thanjavur district, Cholamandalam Investment & Finance Tamil Nadu Company Ltd., ChennaiANNEXURE-II ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) to (c) OF THE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2524 FOR 03.08.2026. Details of proposals received during last three years from Tamil Nadu State Government for development of ASI protected monument /site (2023-24 to 2025-26) Sl. Monument/ Proposal Department/ Status No. Site Agency 1. Kailashnathar Development of Cholamandalam MoU signed on Temple, district visitor amenities Investment and March 2024 Kanchipuram under Adopt A Finance Company Heritage 2.0 Ltd. Program 2. Arjuna's Sound and light Tamil Nadu Approval Penance, Show Tourism conveyed on Mahabalipuram, (via Projection Development 21.10.2024. district mapping) Corporation Chengalpattu 3. Shore Temple, Development of Tamil Nadu Letter with Mahabalipuram, visitor amenities Tourism comments sent on district under Swadesh Development 04.12.2024. Chengalpattu Darshan 2.0 Corporation 4. Brihadeswara Development of India Tourism Letter with Temple, tourist amenities Development comments sent on Gangaikonda, Corporation 05.02.2026. Cholapuram, district Thanjavur 5. Brihadeswara Enhancement of Tamil Nadu Approval Temple, district amenities under Tourism conveyed on Thanjavur Challenge Based Development 20.02.2026. Destination Corporation Development Scheme (a sub- scheme of Swadesh Darshan 2.0 6. Vellore Fort, Sound and Light Vellore Municipal Letter with district Vellore Show Corporation, comments sent on Vellore 02.06.2026. -----