Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:-

(a) whether the Government has raised the issues of construction and maintenance of temples of historic and archaeological importance in SAARC countries;

(b) the details of said temples, country-wise; and

(c) the details of works done along with the funds allocated, released and utilized for maintenance of said temples during the last three years and the current year?
ANSWER: THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SMT. PRENEET KAUR)

(a) & (b) There are no SAARC mandated activities to maintain or construct any religious places in the South Asian Region. There is thus no data on the above that has been collected through SAARC mechanism. At a bilateral level, a Memorandum of Understanding for restoration of the Thiruketheeswaram temple in Mannar, Sri Lanka has been signed between the Governments of India and Sri Lanka in 2011. The Archaeological Survey of India have been identified as the Technical Consultant for the project.

(c) No funds have been released so far for this project.

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South Asia