(a) whether it is a fact that the Archaeological Survey of India are visiting many sites in different countries to preserve the monuments of Indian importance there during the
last three years;
(b) if so, the details thereof mentioning the expenditure incurred on it in the last three years; and
(c) the response received by it from those countries?
MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF TOURISM AND CULTURE (SMT. AMBIKA SONI)
(a) to (c) Under bilateral exchange programme and requests received from the concerned
countries, team of experts from Archaeological Survey of India visited the following
monuments / sites :
1. Katasraj Group of Temple in Pakistan
2. Thiru Kutiswaram Temple and Mulkirigala Rajya Vihar in Sri Lanka
3. ‘Stoor Palace’ in Afghanistan
4. Ta Prohm Temple Complex in Cambodia
5. Prambanan Temple Complex in Indonesia
The project reports and inspection reports have already been submitted to the Ministry of
External Affairs for further action.
In pursuance of the bilateral agreement signed between the Government of India and the
Royal Government of Cambodia, the conservation and restoration of Ta Prohm Temple, in
Cambodia has been entrusted by the MEA to ASI under ITEC programme with an estimated
cost of Rs.19.57 crores to be completed in ten years.
The work on the project was commenced in January, 2004 and expenditure incurred is as under :
Year Amount
2003-04 Rs. 65.09 lakhs 2004-05 Rs. 57.66 lakhs 2005-06 Rs. 89.51 lakhs 2006-07 Rs. 120.08 lakhs 2007-08 Rs. 330.00 lakhs (provision)