An encroached plot at Sisupalgarh OP Photo
Post News Network
Bhubaneswar: While World Heritage Day was observed Monday with different activities organised throughout the day, the real threat to the state’s heritage was far from properly addressed. The state tourism department organised a heritage walk around the famous historical monuments of the city in which dignitaries from the department participated.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization christened April 18 as the International Day for Monuments and Sites in 1983. The aim of observing World Heritage Day is raising awareness on the diversity and vulnerability of monuments and heritage sites across the world and making multi-pronged efforts to protect and conserve them.
But experts are of the view that ceremonious observance of heritage day is far from sufficient for conserving and protecting historical monuments. Once upon a time there were around 500 temples at Old Town in Bhubaneswar of which only 70 exist today. Persistent encroachment by people on the premises of the temples is being cited as the reason for their gradual destruction. The remaining few, experts aver, are also in danger.
Sisupalgarh, Khandagiri, Dhauli, Vaital temple, Chudangada, Paramaguru, Swarnajaleswar, Amania temple and Barabati fort are some of the major historical sites in the state which have been encroached upon and on their premises today stand multi-story buildings. The menace is stark, but the government has not taken steps to either prevent encroachment or protect the sites.
Some sites like Parashurameshvara, Khandagiri and Udayagiri and Dhauli have turned into dump yards with visitors littering the premises.
According to sources, the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) has decided to sell off plots at Sisupalgarh for which a blueprint is being readied. Senior engineers and civic officials are busy marking out the plots near the 13 pillars for sale. Many plots at Sisupalgarh have been sold off in the past couple of years.
Lamenting the encroachment of builders at Sisupalgarh, Jeeban Patnaik, superintending archeologist of ASI said, “Sisupalgarh is historically important but is on the verge of extinction as a majority of the area has been encroached. Encroachment continues unabated and even the site where the 13 pillars of the ancient palace stand has been intruded upon. BDA can’t sell land at Sisupalgarh as it is a heritage site. Apart from the government, citizens too have to understand the value of these historical sites.”
Stating that Dhauli has also fallen prey to rampant encroachment another ASI official said, “On the backside of Dhauli, a man has built a house and has been staying there with his family since the 1999 super cyclone. Nobody has so far removed him from the site.”
Lack of a proper solid waste disposal mechanism is another problem affecting heritage sites. Availability of basic facilities for tourists at all the major tourist sites is a must, but there are many sites in the city where even drinking water is not available.
Dwelling on the lack of facilities at historical sites, Ashwini Satpathy, curator of state archeology department said, “There should be proper management of solid waste disposal at the sites. Minimum facilities like proper sitting arrangements, drinking water, toilets and trained guides should be available along with interpretation centres. Heritage resources should be connected with tourism and in this regard involvement of tour operators of the tourism department is a must. Only these measures can ensure revenue generation. Also signboards should be put up at the sites to provide visitors necessary information.”
