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World heritage status for Bhubaneswar mooted

BHUBANESWAR: Responding to the demand of the INTACH, Orissa chapter for claiming the coveted world heritage status for the temple city, Chief Minister Mr.Naveen Patnaik has directed his Government to swing into action immediately.

A delegation from INTACH met Mr.Patnaik on Thursday. They asked him to move the UNESCO to accord such status on the ancient city of Bhubaneswar.

The delegation suggested the Chief Minister that with a history and heritage of about 5,000 years, Bhubaneswar certainly deserves the status and a demand from the Government would play a key role in getting the status at the earliest, they pointed out.

They also presented a blue print for conservation of the unprotected monuments in the city and the temple town of Puri to the CM as well.

The document, based on a survey undertaken by the INTACH, reveals that Puri has 239 unprotected monuments followed by 199 in the capital city.

The delegation urged the Chief Minister to introduce colour code around the sacred Bindusagar tank near the Lingaraj temple and paint all houses around it with a matching colour.

Following the INTACH move, the CM convened a high level meeting on Friday to review the issue, Culture secretary Mr.G.N.Mohanty told The Hindu.

The Chief Minister has also directed the State Archaeology Department to take up the conservation work of the monuments and renovation of the historic tanks with funds sanctioned by the 12th Finance Commission, he added.

The Government will soon take up the matter with the UNESCO, it was learnt.

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