**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to Unstarred Question No. 1457 in Lok Sabha, concerning the renovation of cultural and historical sites in Tamil Nadu. The response, provided by the Minister of Culture and Tourism on 09.02.2026, details the conservation works planned or underway by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) for the years 2024-25. Annexure I lists the specific sites and planned works.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **General Overview:**
* There are 412 centrally protected monuments/sites under the care and maintenance of ASI in Tamil Nadu.
* Conservation and preservation work is a continuous process based on need, availability of resources, and the National Policy for Conservation.
* ASI officials regularly inspect sites to assess condition and carry out necessary works.
* All sites are reported to be in good state of preservation.
* **Conservation Works (2024-25):**
* Numerous sites are undergoing various conservation works, including water tightening, structural repairs, dismantling and reconstruction, plastering, fencing, pathway construction, and vegetation removal.
* Specific sites include:
* Clive's House St. George Fort, Chennai
* Last House Of Snobs Alley At Chennai
* Rajagiri Fort (Restoration of bastion) Gingee
* Comprehensive Conservation Plan under MW(C) to Fort Gingee (Phase-I)
* Restoration of mandapa at Venkatramana Temple at Gingee
* Restoration of ancient water tank steps near Kamalakanniamman temple and Mandapa plastering Fortress comprising hill fort on the Rajagiri at middle, Gingee
* Structural repairs to granaries, magazine, ranganatha temple and balaRanganatha temple at hill top, Gingee
* Minor and Lower Forts at Gingee, 2022-23
* Restoration of Damaged/Bulged out Southern and western side outer prakara wall of Apathsahayeswara Temple at Sendhamangalam, 2023-24.
* Aleva Shore temple, Mamallapuram
* Providing steps and pathways at Hill fort, Rayakottai, 2022-23.
* Narasimhaswami and Ranganathaswami Temples, Namakkal
* Hill Fort Namakkal (MS Fencing with Dwarf Wall)
* Fort and temple on the hill at Chinnakavandanur
* Conservation of fortification wall at remains of the fort with the buildings thereon, Attur
* VaradarajaPerumal Temple with its Tank in the Fort Complex at Chinnakavundanur
* Fort Upper rampart and adjoining structures at Fort, Vellore
* Raise The Level Of Existing Grill Fencing For Fort At Vellore
* Jain temple, Thirumalai for the year
* Siva, (Erumbeswaraswami) Temple, Thiruverumbur
* Whole of the Siva Temple and the inscribed stone in the front mandapam, Ammankurichi
* Rock-cut Vishnu Temple – (Sathyamurti shrine), Tirumayam
* Rock-cut Siva Temple (Sathyyagiriswara shrine), Tiramayam
*
**Impact Analysis**
**ASI Officials/Officers**
* **Impact:** Responsible for the ongoing inspection, conservation, renovation, and maintenance of the listed monuments and sites.
* **Action Required:** Continue regular inspections, implement planned conservation works as detailed in Annexure I, and ensure adherence to the National Policy for Conservation.
**Government of India (Ministry of Culture and Tourism):**
* **Impact:** Oversees and supports the conservation efforts of ASI, ensuring that cultural and historical sites are preserved and maintained.
* **Action Required:** Provide adequate resources and policy guidance to ASI to enable the effective conservation and preservation of monuments and sites in Tamil Nadu.
**Public (Citizens of Tamil Nadu and India):**
* **Impact:** Benefits from the preservation and enhancement of cultural and historical sites, contributing to cultural heritage and tourism.
* **Action Required:** Be aware of the ongoing conservation efforts and contribute to the preservation of these sites by respecting their significance and reporting any damage or neglect.
Key Entities Referenced
Archaeological Survey of India (ASI): The primary agency responsible for the conservation and maintenance of the listed monuments and sites.
National Policy for Conservation: A referenced policy document that guides the conservation and preservation work of monuments/sites.
Tamil Nadu: The state where the renovation of cultural and historical importance sites is taking place.
Ministry of Culture: The central ministry overseeing the renovation and conservation efforts.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Indian Parliament, where the unstarred question regarding the renovation was raised.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CULTURE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1457
TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.02.2026
RENOVATION OF CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL IMPORTANCE SITES IN TAMIL
NADU
1457. SHRI ESWARASAMY K:
Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:
(a) whether it is a fact that Government has planned to renovate historical, artistic and
cultural importance sites in Tamil Nadu during the years 2024-25;
(b) if so, the details of the sites renovated so far; and
(c) the details of the sites that are yet to be renovated and timeline therefor?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM
(SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)
(a) There are 412 centrally protected monuments/sites under the care and maintenance of
to Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in Tamil Nadu State. Conservation and
(c)
preservation work of these monuments/sites is a continuous process and is taken up as per
the need and availability of resources subject to the National Policy for Conservation. All
these monuments/sites are regularly inspected by the ASI official/officers from time to
time to assess the present condition and accordingly conservation, renovation and
maintenance works are carried out. All the monuments/sites are in a good state of
preservation. The details of major conservation works carried out in 2024-25 are enclosed
as Annexure I.Annexure-I
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) to (c) OF THE LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1457 FOR 09.02.2026
DETAILS OF CONSERVATION WORKS TAKEN UP IN RESPECT OF ASI, CHENNAI
CIRCLE DURING THE YEAR 2024-25
Sl. Name of Monument Description of work
No
1. Clive’s House St. George Fort, Chennai Proposed water tightening of damaged/cracked Madras
terrace roofing and redoing the damaged portion of
wall of the building on western part (Kitchen room)of
Clive’s Building.
2. Last House Of Snobs Alley At Chennai Strengthening / Conserving of existing fallen portion of
Lost house.
3. Rajagiri Fort (Restoration of bastion) Dismantling of 2nd Bastion towards Chettikulam after
Gingee proper documentation has been completed and
reconstruction of Stone masonry for 10 layers
including back filling is completed.
4. Comprehensive Conservation PIan under De-plastering of Venkatramana Temple Gopura,
MW(C) to Fort Gingee (Phase-I) restoration of Kalasa has been completed. Plastering of
Gopura is partially completed.
5. Restoration of mandapa at Venkatramana Restoration of fallen / damaged mandapas (two
Temple at Gingee numbers), Material has been procured partially.
6. Restoration of ancient water tank steps Brick-on-edge pathway to the Kamalakaniamman
near Kamalakanniamman temple and temple form the stepped well.
Mandapa plastering Fortress comprising
hill fort on the Rajagiri at middle, Gingee
7. Structural repairs to granaries, magazine, Providing brick jelly lime concrete flooring &
ranganatha temple and balaRanganatha plastering the walls etc.
temple at hill top, Gingee
8. Minor and Lower Forts at Gingee, 2022-23 Restoration of fallen fortification wall and water
tightening after removal of vegetation growth at
Vellore gate of Gingee Fort.
9. Restoration of Damaged/Bulged out Restoration of damaged / fallen prakara wall towards
Southern and western side outer prakara southern and western side.
wall of Apathsahayeswara Temple at
Sendhamangalam, 2023-24.
10. Aleva Shore temple, Mamallapuram Reconstruction of fallen/damaged MS Grill fencing
over dwarf boundary wall towards northern side of
existing toilet block.
Re-pointing the damaged joints of stone pathway.
11. Providing steps and pathways at Hill fort, Providing dwarf fencing and grills, pathway to the hill
Rayakottai, 2022-23. fort top.
12. Narasimhaswami and Ranganathaswami Removing the existing leaking roof concrete and
Temples, Namakkal providing the new lime concrete coarse to arrest the
leaking
13. Hill Fort Namakkal (MS Fencing with Plastering of the damaged merlons, and Providing
Dwarf Wall) dwarf fencing grills to the monument boundary.
14. Fort and temple on the hill at Providing the Stone pitching to the entrance area and
Chinnakavandanur reconstruction of bastions
15. Conservation of fortification wall at Repairs to the fallen fortification wall and bastionremains of the fort with the buildings
thereon, Attur
16. VaradarajaPerumal Temple with its Tank Water tightening to the terrace partially.
in the Fort Complex at Chinnakavundanur Proposed for Replacing the cracked stone beams, stone
ceiling slabs & water tightening the mandapa.
17. Fort Upper rampart and adjoining Fixing of stone merlons, reconstruction of bulged
structures at Fort, Vellore retaining wall and stone pitching using RR stone.
18. Raise The Level Of Existing Grill Fencing Raising the grill fencing at Northern side and western
For Fort At Vellore side of Fort, Vellore.
19. Jain temple, Thirumalai for the year Providing pathway from Panchaparameswara temple to
Neminathar temple steps.
20. Siva (Erumbeswaraswami) Temple, Brick work, plastering work, stucco work-work
Thiruverumbur completed 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
21. Whole of the Siva Temple and the Carefully dismantling and removing the damaged
inscribed stone in the front mandapam, weathering course , Providing water tightening by
Ammankurichi providing brick jelly, 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
22. Rock-cut Vishnu Temple – (Sathyamurti Carefully dismantling and removing the damaged
shrine), Tirumayam weathering 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
23. Rock-cut Siva Temple (Sathyyagiriswara Carefully dismantling and removing the damaged
shrine), Tirumayam weathering course, Providing water tightening by
providing brick jelly 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
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