SRINAGAR: The Centre has spent nearly Rs 27 crore on the conservation, preservation and environmental development of centrally protected monuments in Jammu and Kashmir over the past five financial years, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Thursday.
In a written reply to an unstarred question, Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) undertakes conservation and maintenance of all centrally protected monuments in accordance with the National Conservation Policy, based on periodic condition assessments and the availability of resources.
According to the ministry, the Srinagar Circle of the ASI was allocated Rs 2.55 crore in 2021-22, Rs 6.11 crore in 2022-23, Rs 7.17 crore in 2023-24, Rs 4.90 crore in 2024-25 and Rs 5.95 crore in 2025-26. Expenditure closely matched the allocations each year, taking the total spending in Jammu and Kashmir to about Rs 26.6 crore over the five-year period.
The Centre said there are 3,688 centrally protected monuments and archaeological sites across the country, all of which, including lesser-known monuments, are regularly inspected and conserved according to their condition, priority and available resources.
To promote cultural heritage and tourism, the ASI has been developing visitor amenities such as pathways, signage, drinking water facilities, toilets, benches, cultural notice boards and site museums wherever feasible. It also conducts heritage awareness campaigns through digital initiatives, exhibitions, cultural programmes, seminars and workshops.
The Ministry of Tourism, meanwhile, promotes cultural and heritage destinations, including lesser-known sites, through the Incredible India digital platform, social media campaigns, stakeholder engagements and the Dekho Apna Desh initiative.
The Government clarified that conservation and development works are carried out based on the condition and priority of monuments rather than through a separate list of identified lesser-known destinations.
