No proposal to increase the entry fee to ASI monuments

New Delhi, Aug 30 (UNI) There is no proposal to increase the entry fee to monuments under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the government today told Lok Sabha.

The ASI maintains and protects 3667 monuments and sites of national importance including 19 World Heritage sites of outstanding universal value, Tourism and Culture Minister Ambika Soni said, in a written reply.

She said tourist facilities like toilets, drinking water, ramps and wheel chairs for physically-challenged people are provided at the World Heritage sites and other ticketed centrally protected monuments.

Responding to another question, Ms Soni admitted that the ancient 19th century Chettinad buildings in Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu is mentioned in the list of 100 most endangered sites by the World Monument Fund (WMF)-- a private organisation based in New York, US -- but as the site is not a centrally-protected monument, so there is no question of taking any remedial steps for the buildings.

The WMF is not a UNESCO agency, Ms Soni added.

UNI