Union govt to fund protection of monuments

Bangalore, Jan 6 (UNI) 12th National Finance Commission has released Rs 50 Crore grant to Karnataka to protect its rich cultural heritage and tradition, Department of Kannada and Culture Secretary I M Vittalamurthy has said.

"The grant would be utilised for protection of Monuments, development of Museums, Tourism and Libraries," he told newspersons here last night.

He said that the amount to be released in phases from the current financial year untill 2009-10. While the state had about 750 protected monuments, more than 25,000 remained unprotected.

"It is our duty to protect them for next generation and help protect cultural heritage and develop Tourism. With the grant, 54 monuments would be developed and for this purpose Rs 15 Crore has been earmarked and Rs 3.75 crore would be released every year. To give technical and administrative sanction for the works an Advisory Committee has been formed which had already started functioning," he said.

Mr Murthy said importance would be given to protect Archaeological Museums and for this purpose Rs Five Crore had been reserved. Work for development of eight Archaeological Museums had begun. The department had taken up during the current financial year works to protect 27 monuments, he added.

Advisory Committee members Mr Ashwathnarayan, former PWD Secretary M M Raichur, former Archaeological protection Engineer Dr B Narasimaiah and Retired Archaeological Expert H S Ratnakar Director H S Ratnakar were also present at the press conference.

UNI