The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) was in the process of reviving its underwater archaeology wing that had become defunct over the years, according to Culture Ministry officials recently.
A senior official told The Hindu that the underwater wing was being revived, while the details of excavations and projects to be taken up were yet to be decided. Another official said the ASI had appointed Alok Tripathi, an expert in underwater archaeology, as its Additional Director General in 2021. Mr. Tripathi, the former head of the history department of Assam University, Silchar has written on the topics of marine archaeology and remote sensing, among others.
The Ministry had also informed the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture that the underwater wing would be revived, as per the committee’s February 2 report.
