Bhubaneswar, Sept. 26 (UDN): Despite Odisha being home to more than 3,000 identified temples and archaeological monuments, only 294 sites have been granted protected status by the state and central governments, the Assembly was informed on Friday.
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Replying to a question by BJD MLA Prasanna Acharya, Language, Literature and Culture Minister Suryabanshi Suraj said that 212 monuments are protected by the State Archaeology Department, while 82 monuments fall under the protection of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
The minister said the State Archaeology Department has earmarked ₹7 crore during the current financial year exclusively for the conservation and maintenance of protected monuments. An additional ₹13 crore has been allocated for the upkeep of both protected and unprotected heritage structures across the state.
He also shared details of the previous financial year’s expenditure, stating that ₹5 crore had been allocated for protected monuments, while ₹10.9 crore was sanctioned for the preservation of both protected and unprotected sites.
Responding to concerns over the conservation of ancient temples, Suraj rejected allegations that sanctioned funds for heritage preservation were lying unused. He maintained that the allocated resources are being utilised for restoration, conservation and maintenance works undertaken by the department.
The figures highlight the gap between the large number of historically significant monuments identified across Odisha and the relatively small number that currently receive statutory protection under state or central heritage laws.
