Chennai: Chief minister M K Stalin on Monday flagged a delay in getting Archaeological Survey of India’s (ASI) permission to excavate eight sites, including Keeladi, Adichanur, and Nagapattinam.Permission has been pending for eight months, he said in a social media post.Stalin said the delay could affect fieldwork as excavation is possible only from Jan to July. “If this window is missed, monsoon will stall vital research and waste funds allocated for the year,” Stalin said.“Why this hesitation? The antiquity of Tamil civilization does not diminish India. It adds to India’s civilizational pride. What is the BJP govt afraid of,” he asked.The state archaeology department’s proposals include unearthing an ancient Buddhist Vihar at the Chola port in Nagapattinam, a Sangam-era glass bead-making centre in Cuddalore, and sites which yielded Roman gold coins in Coimbatore and Tenkasi. It also includes the Iron Age burial site in Adichanur. Further, govt also sought permission to excavate for the 11th season at Keeladi. TNN
