Declare Keeladi a protected archaeological site: Ramdoss

Madurai: PMK leader Dr S Ramdoss has demanded that Keeladi in Sivaganga district should be declared a protected archaeological site. Keeladi has proved that the Tamil civilization dates back to over 2,600 years, but the Centre said that there was no proposal to declare Keeladi a protected archaeological site, Ramdoss said in a press statement.
This is disappointing and it should be done without further delay, he has said.Answering MP Vaiko in the Parliament, Union Minister of State for Culture and Tourism, Prahalad Singh Patel, has said that a museum to showcase the artefacts unearthed at Keeladi is coming up near the site. He has said that the excavation would be expanded. If Keeladi must be declared a protected site, the recommendation for the same should come from the Tamil Nadu government. But it had not been made yet, he said. If a site is declared a protected site, there will be chances of the ancient structures and artefacts getting damaged. As far as Keeladi is concerned, only a small area has been excavated with only 110 pits dug and 15,000 artefacts found.
People in Keeladi are ready to give their land. If the government is ready to reimburse them for the land, it could be a smooth process, and the excavation could be done in detail, he has said.
Archaeological excavations began in Sonauli in Baghpat district in Uttar Pradesh in March last year, and a temple car dating back to B C 2000 to B C 1800 has been found along with other artefacts. An area of 28.67 acres near the old site has been declared a protected site for the next level of excavations and Rs 6000 crores has also been allocated for the same. But, Keeladi excavations began in 2015 and it has not been declared a protected site, he has said.