1100 ASI-protected monuments and heritage sites in South India; conservation funds and amenities
ASI protection, conservation spending, and visitor amenities for national-importance monuments in South India
- ASI carries out periodic inspections of its protected monuments and sites and undertakes maintenance, preservation, restoration, and conservation works based on requirements.
- Conservation works for ASI-protected monuments and sites are described as being taken up in accordance with the National Conservation Policy, 2014.
- The government provided allocation and expenditure figures for conservation of ASI-protected monuments and sites located in southern states for the last five financial years.
- ASI provides visitor amenities such as drinking water, toilets, Braille signage and QR code-based information systems at selected monuments and sites with high visitor footfall to enhance tourism while ensuring preservation.
What happened
The Ministry of Culture, Government of India, informed the Rajya Sabha that the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) maintains 1,100 monuments and heritage sites declared as of national importance in South India. The government also disclosed state-wise counts and a five-year record of conservation funding (allocation and expenditure) for ASI-protected monuments and sites located in southern states, along with a list of visitor amenities provided at selected high-footfall sites.
Background and earlier position
ASI conservation governance in South India covers protected monuments under its care, periodic inspections, maintenance/restoration/conservation works linked to the National Conservation Policy, 2014, and visitor amenities designed to reduce friction while protecting monuments. The Rajya Sabha reply provides state-wise site counts and a five-year allocation-expenditure pattern for conservation spending, allowing examination of conservation governance and public resource utilisation claims.
