Bhubaneswar: More than 3,000 temples and monuments of archaeological importance have been identified in Odisha, but only 294 have been officially declared protected monuments by the state and central governments.
Language, Literature and Culture Minister Suryabanshi Suraj shared the figures in a written reply in the Odisha Assembly. He was responding to a question by BJD MLA Prasanna Acharya on the renovation of ancient temples.
Of the 294 protected monuments, 212 are under the State Archaeology Department, while 82 are centrally protected.
The state government has allocated ₹7 crore this financial year for protected monuments and ₹13 crore for the maintenance and conservation of both protected and unprotected monuments.
In the previous financial year, ₹5 crore was allocated for protected monuments, while ₹10.9 crore was provided for both categories.
Suraj also rejected allegations that funds sanctioned for the maintenance and development of ancient monuments were not being properly utilised.