Tamil Nadu: The Central Department of Archaeology has granted permission to conduct excavation work at eight sites across Tamil Nadu, including Keeladi in the Sivaganga district.
In July 2025, the Tamil Nadu Department of Archaeology submitted proposals to the Central Department of Archaeology seeking permission to conduct excavations at eight sites; these included the 11th phase of excavations at Keeladi, as well as sites in Adichanallur and Nagapattinam. These proposals were also reviewed during a meeting chaired by the Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in November. However, the approval process faced a delay of approximately eight months, which subsequently impacted the excavation work. Chief Minister’s Intervention: Following this delay, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin urged the Central Government to expedite the process, emphasizing that the period from January to July constitutes the most suitable window for excavation activities in Tamil Nadu, as ground-level operations would be adversely affected by the onset of the monsoon thereafter.
In light of this situation—and acceding to the request made by the Tamil Nadu government—the Central Department of Archaeology has now granted permission to proceed with excavation work at the eight designated sites, including Keeladi. Official approval for this undertaking was formally issued on March 13. It has been reported that this permission was granted under the provisions of the ‘Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Rules, 1959,’ based on the recommendations submitted by an expert committee.
Work to Begin Soon: The next phase of efforts aimed at unearthing Tamil Nadu’s ancient urban civilization is set to commence very shortly. It is noteworthy that the Tamil Nadu government had already allocated the necessary funds for these excavation projects within its 2025-26 budget statement. Excavations at Eight Sites: Consequently, based on the approval granted by the Central Government, the 11th phase of archaeological surveys and excavations will now be conducted at Keeladi and its surrounding areas within the Sivaganga district. Furthermore, excavations will also be conducted at significant historical sites such as Pattinamarudur in Thoothukudi district, Karivalamvanthanallur in Tenkasi district, Manikollai in Cuddalore district, Adichanallur in Villupuram district, Vellalore in Coimbatore district, Telanganur-Mangadu in Salem district, and Nagapattinam.
It is expected that these comprehensive studies will greatly aid in understanding the holistic lifestyle of the ancient Tamil people who inhabited various regions of Tamil Nadu. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin stated that the Central Government’s approval for excavations at eight sites—including Keeladi—marks the success of the DMK government’s persistent efforts.
On Tuesday, he posted the following on the social media platform ‘X’:
“Through persistent pressure and correspondence, we have secured the Central Government’s approval to conduct excavations at eight sites, including Keeladi. After a delay spanning several months, this stands as a triumph of the DMK government’s tireless efforts.” In his post, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin further mentioned that, subsequently, they would also publish the Keeladi study report, which had been withheld by the BJP-led Central Government.
