The infamous search for gold in Unnao cost the ASI Rs 2.78 lakh.

"An expenditure of Rs 2,78,751 was incurred on the trial excavations at the site," Culture Minister Chandresh Kumari Katoch said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha today.

An ASI team had started on October 18 the excavation work at the fort of Raja Rao Ram Bux Singh in Unnao to dig out a suspected gold treasure, which a seer had dreamed of being buried there.

The team worked on two trenches in search of gold but found nothing. A month later, in November, the ASI decided to call off the work after the first trench proved to be a dud and a second trench also failed to reveal anything substantial.