Center to revive ASI’s underwater wing for explorations in 4 states

Over the following few months, a number of tasks will probably be readied for excavations in Dwarka (Gujarat), a number of mythological websites within the Cauvery delta (Tamil Nadu), and websites alongside the coast in Maharashtra and Odisha, officers say. However, there isn’t any plan for the Ram Setu website but, they add.

Even because the ASI had established its underwater wing in 2001, it has remained defunct for greater than a decade, largely owing to lack of specialists on the helm, sources say. In truth, a number of underwater excavations needed to be deserted prior to now, together with an offshore exploration in Tamil Nadu’s Poompuhar between 1981 and early 2000s to unravel the 2000-year-old port of Kaveripattinam. Officials say additional surveys might reveal extra info in regards to the historical port metropolis, which reportedly had commerce hyperlinks with the Roman empire and China.

In its 305th report on the Parliamentary Standing Committee on transport, tourism and tradition, submitted to the Rajya Sabha on February 2, the 31-member committee headed by BJP MP TG Venkatesh beneficial to the Ministry of Culture that “underwater archaeological exploration has to be revived in the states of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Odisha”.

In its response, the ministry mentioned the ASI was reviving its underwater wing and Alok Tripathi, an extra director general-level officer who had been posted lately, was an underwater archaeology knowledgeable.

Established in 2001, the UAW has to its credit score the exploration of Elephanta island, Mahabalipuram within the Bay of Bengal, a website in Pondicherry and the excavation of a shipwreck named ‘Princess Royal’ in Lakshadweep. Near-shore explorations have been additionally carried out at historical port websites similar to Chilka, Kalingapatnam, Machilipatnam and Rameswaram coast, ASI officers say.