Chennai: Tamilnadu government will carry our archaeological excavation in seven more places and would also idenitfy a suitable location for
deep sea excavation at Korkai , a Sangam era port of the Pandya Kings.
Presenting his second budget in the State Assembly, Finance Minister PTR Palanivel Thiagarajan said following the excavations carried out in the previous year by the State Archaeological Department in several places including Keezhadi in Sivagangai district, Sivakalai in Thoothukudi district, Gangaikondacholapuram in Ariyalur, Mayiladumparai in Krishnagiri district, excavations will be carried out in seven more places, including three sites at Thoolookarpatti in Tirunelveli district, Vembakottai in Virudhunagar district and Perumbalai in Dharmapuri district during this year.
Further, archaeological explorations are being carried out in order to find new Stone Age sites in five districts and archaeological sites along the Porunai river.
He said during this year, a preliminary reconnaissance will be done in collaboration with the Indian Maritime University and National Institute of Ocean Technology to identify a suitable location for deep-sea excavation at Korkai, a Sangam era port of the Pandya Kings.
The works for excavation in seven sites, archaeological exploration in two sites and for preliminary works in Korkai will be undertaken at a cost of Rs. 5 crore.
In order to generate interest among the people, especially students, about Tamil archaeological heritage and about preservation of relics in our State, on-site museums near excavation sites and other museums need to be developed. This year, new museums will be built in Villupuram and Ramanathapuram districts at an estimated
cost of Rs.10 crore.
In addition, the tribal on-site museum at Courtallam in Tenkasi district, the pre-historic on-site museum at Poondi in Tiruvallur district and the Hero-Stone on-site museum in Dharmapuri district will be upgraded at an estimated cost of Rs.10 crore, he said.
To preserve heritage public buildings in the State, a special allocation of Rs.50 crore has been made this year to carry out renovation works without compromising on their innate heritage value.
The Minister said Rs.82.86 crore has been allocated to the Tamil Development Department in this Budget.