NewzVille Desk
Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in a written reply in Rajya Sabha yesterday said that Research and Exploration activities are currently underway at Dwarka and Bet Dwarka (Gujarat), Mahabalipuram (Tamil Nadu) and Karaikal (Puducherry) by the Underwater Archaeology Wing of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
He further informed that the Government of India has granted license for underwater excavation/exploration to the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology at Poompuhar (Tamil Nadu) and to the Marine Archaeology Centre, National Institute of Oceanography at Bet Dwarka and Chhari and Gangata Bet (Gujarat).
The total budget allocated for the Underwater Archaeology Wing of the Archaeological Survey of India is approximately Rs 1 crore.
Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology also has earmarked Rs.7crores for archaeological excavations on land as well as underwater.
The National Institute of Oceanography has a budgetary allocation of Rs.20 lacs.
The Underwater Archaeology Wing of the Archaeological Survey of India has initiated a focused programme for training archaeologists and conducting surveys of submerged sites.
The following sites have been identified for underwater exploration/excavation up to 2030:
Dwarka and Bet Dwarka (Gujrat)
Vijay Durg (Maharashtra)
Janjira (Maharashtra)
Karaikal (Puducherry)
Mahabalipuram (Tamil Nadu)
