Lekha G
The Orissa High Court conveyed displeasure over the State Government’s failure to submit a satisfactory report on the present status of the ancient monuments at Sisupalgarh on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar.
The Division Bench comprising of Justice BR Sarangi and Justice KR Mohapatra adjourned the hearing to June 21 granting the State Government time to file a satisfactory report owing to the dissatisfaction of the government’s affidavit filed as per the directions invoked on April 19.
The Court anticipated the government to file a report on the present status of the protected area of the ruins of Sisupalgarh along with photographs of the site and the steps taken for preservation of the monuments.
The Indian National Trust for Arts and Cultural Heritage had filed a PIL in 2007 seeking a specific direction to the authorities concerned to take necessary steps to protect the monuments in Sisupalgarh area by restricting unauthorized constructions or encroachments.
In a related development, ASI Bhubaneswar Circle had directed the Collector of Khurda to take up rapid steps to halt construction of road by illegal removal of the fortification wall of Sisupalgarh in order to preserve and save the monuments of national importance.
Further on April 30, in a letter to the collector, ASI Bhubaneswar Circle Superintending Archaeologist in-charge, PK Dikhit submitted that the fortification wall of the southern side of Sisupalgarh had been removed by using machines and the land was being levelled for easy access to the plots.
