PIVOTAL HERITAGE SITES OF ASSAM TO BE UNDER PRIVATE CLUTCH

After Red Fort,  now the sites of Assam to fall a prey to private acquisition.

The Government’s decision to allow a private body to maintain the Historic Red fort under ‘Adopt a Heritage’ scheme has created a nation-wide outrage. Under the scheme private and corporate individuals are invited to adopt a heritage site for promoting sustainable tourism through conservation and developing,over a period of five years.

Such a decision has raised a serious question among the people regarding the accountability of the government towards its own people.The decision has been condemned by the people, associating such a move to the inefficiency of the government to preserve its own cultural heritage.

It is known that  under ‘Adopt a Heritage ‘ scheme four sites of Assam viz.  Kaziranga National Park, Rang ghar, Kareng ghar and Shiva Dol will be on the private undertaking of JTI group. These are included  in the Phase 3 of the scheme. It is reported that no further construction can be done on the existing monuments but apprehensions lead to the question of constructional works around the sites.

The opposition parties together with the people of Assam has denounced such a decision taken by the Government. They shunned such a move questioning if the Government is all set to barter it's own pride ,then how can the security of people be expected from such a government.

Speaking to Inside NE, Bokhonto Gogoi,  vice president central committee AATASU stated that the government itself owns a department namely ‘The Archaeological Survey Of India’ for the maintenance of its monuments which is facilitated by the hard earned money of the people of the country. He questioned  that if the monuments are to be handed to private entity all the way, what about the money allocated to the department for the maintenance of the monuments. He has also raised question regarding the fate of the employees of the department. It is informed that this will be a non profit venture of the private parties. Reciprocating to it Gogoi questioned that if at all this is a non profit venture by the private parties,why doesn't it hand over the money to the government instead, for the development of the same.

Speaking to Inside NE,  M. I Bora, President Ahom Royal Society,  Sivasagar stated that if the department of Archaeology is inefficient to maintain the monuments of the State,  then he has urged such monuments of the Ahom legacy to be handed over to the regional organization like the Tai Asom Yuva Parishad,  Ahom Royal Society etc. He stated that they will be more than happy to take care of their own pride.

The people from all quarters has urged the state government to rise from the present slumber and adopt tangible steps to stop privatization of the monuments.

It will be interesting to see if the cries fall on deaf ears or  are really paid heed to by the State government to justify its own slogan as the Protector of  ‘Jati, Mati, Bheti’.