LAHORE, July 19: The Federal Archaeology Department has allocated Rs1.2 million to its north circle wing for the upkeep of 117 monuments in Punjab during ongoing fiscal year.

The allocated amount, which is Rs350,000 less than the last year budget, is 4.5 per cent of the total budget of the archaeology department (north) this year.

Archaeology department officials told Dawn on Friday that the amount would only be spent on the repair and maintenance of Shalamar Gardens, Hiran Minar, Jehangir Tomb and Qila Rohtas. They, however, claimed that not a single penny had been spent for the maintenance of Sarowala Tomb, Chauburji Gardens, Kos Minars and tombs of Buhadar Khan and Zaibun Nisah for the last five years or more. These sites were deteriorating due to constant lack of interest from the department, they added.

They said the federal department had only focused on Qhandhara valley.