Baripada: Mayurbhanj district has a special place in the annals of Orissa history for its rich art, culture, sculpture and heritage.
Though every Oriya is proud of the glorious chapter of the erstwhile princely state, some testaments of the history are on the verge of disappearance due to the lack of proper upkeep.
Maharani Dharmasala (rest house for travelers) set up by the then king of Mayurbhanj king near Haribaldev Jiu temple in this town is a case in point.
The king had constructed it in the name of his queen Laxmi Kumari for the travelers of his state and neighbouring states who can take rest by paying minimum cost. However, the historical structure had gone to the hand of endowment department after accession of Mayurbhanj state with Orissa. The poor maintenance of the British era building by the endowment department seems to have dashed the dream of the then king. The structure is now in a dilapidated state, according to a report.
It is alleged that four sub-collectors who were in charge during June 2015 and June 2016 along with some endowment department staff didn’t pay heed to the maintenance of the structure which led to such a situation.
There are nine rooms in the building and visitors from faraway places still pay for their stay in the Dharmasala. However, the some government staff who are in charge of its maintenance allegedly embezzle the payment by not keeping the accounts up to date.
Hundreds of devotees visited Baripada town during last Rath Yatra and some of them stayed at Maharani Dharmasala. However, they had to leave soon following the rude behavior by the staffers of the Dharmasala, it was learnt. Similarly, one of the staff of the building allows anti-social elements into the building, alleged some locals. The structure would collapse after a few days and become a thing of past, they added.
On the other hand, ex-Rajya Sabha MP Birabhadra Singh had set up a Mandap spending about Rs 15 lakh during 2002-03 fiscal. Since then the endowment department has not spent a rupee on the maintenance of the Mandap.
When contacted, Baripada sub-collector and endowment officer Sharat Kumar Purohit said Rajya Sabha member Sarojini Hembrum has sanctioned Rs five lakh for the repair of Dharmasala which would be spent for the renovation of the ancient structure. PNN