Question : LIGHTING ARRANGEMENT IN MONUMENTS

(a) whether the Archaeological Survey of India has decided to make special lighting arrangements in historical monuments keeping in view of the forthcoming Commonwealth Games;

(b) if so, the number of monuments identified for the purpose;

(c) the time by which lighting arrangement is likely to be completed and the expenditure likely to be incurred thereto;

(d) the number of historical monuments in the country included in the list of World Heritage List of the UNESCO; and

(e) the amount of funds/foreign exchanges earned from these monuments during the last three years, year-wise and monument-wise?

MINISTER OF STATE FOR PLANNING AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS(SHRI V. NARAYANASAMY)

(a) Yes,Sir,with the financial support from the Ministry of Tourism.

(b) 20 centrally protected monuments in Delhi have been identified for illumination, details of which is at Annexure-I.

(c) The work is targeted for completion before the commencement of Commonwealth Games 2010 i.e. October,2010.The Indian Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) has been entrusted with the responsibility of lighting by the Ministry of Tourism directly, and hence Archaeological Survey of India is not incurring any expenditure in this regard except the recurring electricity charges.A copy of the MoU singed between ASI and ITDC for the purpose is at Annexure-II.

(d) There are 22 cultural and 5 natural sites in the country, which find inclusion in the World Heritage List of UNESCO.

(e) The revenue earned (monument-wise and year-wise) by way of entrance fee from 16 World Heritage Sites,under the jurisdiction of the Archaeological Survey of India, during the last three years is at Annexure-III.