Bolangir: Days after digging pits at the ancient heritage site of Ranipur-Jharial in this district, the consultancy agency triggered a fresh row after it covered the pits and some ancient relics with soils, a report said Sunday.
The agency not only tried to cover up its wrongdoings but ended up triggering a fresh storm. Orissa Post had published a report on the illegal excavations February 15. The agency after digging the pits has laid pipes.
However, this has failed to prompt the district administration or the ASI authorities to launch a crackdown on the wrongdoers.
Ranipur-Jharial is an important heritage site in Bolangir district. It has a shrine of presiding deity of 64 Yoginis and is 104 km away from Bolangir town. It is an important seat of worship of Shaiva, Shakta and Buddhism.
The site stands on a rocky hill and is known as “Soma Tirth” in scriptures. The site is a combination of religious faiths of Shaivism, Buddhism, Vaisnavism and Tantra. The 64 Yoginis are worshiped on a close circular open vault. It is one of the four such shrines in India. The temple dedicated to Lord Someswar is noted one among a plethora of about 50 temples here.
The illegal excavations sparked concerns among the residents as the agency carried out the excavation allegedly for laying pipelines for a canal project near the Chhelia temple at the heritage site. It is yet to be established at whose behest the excavation was carried out.
This has happened despite a ban in place on any kind of excavation in the protected monuments of the country, researcher Dolagobind Bisi said.
There is not only a ban on any kind of excavation but Ranipur-Jharial is under the possession of Archeological Survey of India (ASI) for conservation. The rule further states that no excavation work could be carried out without the permission of the ASI and it is also punishable under law. A person named Thabir Chandra Bag has lodged a complaint at the Sindhekela police station in this regard but the police are yet to take any step.
Social activist Rajiv Sagaria expressed concern over the negligence of the ASI and the district administration.
The ASI has not only taken up the site for conservation but also mentions it in its Central Conservation List.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Bolangir had announced his government’s commitment for the conservation and development of the heritage site.
The ASI officials also organised a presser and announced to have taken up the site for conservation. The ASI officials announced that the renovation and the protection of the monument will be done at an expenditure of Rs 9.6 crore.
They also had said that a boundary wall would be constructed around the 64 Yogini temple, Ranigudi or Rani temple of 9th century and the Indralath temple of 7th century and over 50 memorials inside it.
Arun Mallick, ASI’s archaeology superintendent, said that very soon he will take steps in this regard.
PNN
