Protest against heritage site adoption scheme in Assam

A Central government scheme that saw the Dalmia Bharat Group adopt the Red Fort in New Delhi has triggered protests in Assam where four sites have been chosen to be handed over to the corporate sector as part of the plan.

Members of the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU),Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) and other organisations on Wednesday protested against the'Adopt a Heritage' scheme, a collaboration among the Tourism and Culture Ministers, the Archaeological Survey of India and the State government.

Four sites

The four sites chosen in Assam include the KazirangaNational Park, Rangghar, Asia’s oldest amphitheatre,Kareng Ghar, a palace and Shiva Dol, a temple – all inSivasagar district built during the 600-year reign of theAhom dynasty before the British took control of theNortheast in 1826.

“The four sites selected are the pride of Assam. We will not let them be handed over to any private party for maintenance. The Centre should instead hand them over to the local people if it cannot maintain them,” KMSS leader Akhil Gogoi said.

The AASU, in a statement, said officers of the ASI should be punished for failing to maintain the monuments entrusted to them.

The Opposition Congress too slammed the Centre. “This is condemnable,” State Congress president Ripun Borasaid.

Move defended

The Bharatiya Janata Party-led coalition government, however, defended the move saying it has been misconstrued.

“There is a misconception that the four heritage sites are being privatised. Private parties will, under corporate social responsibility, develop and maintain tourist facilities such as toilets, parking and cafeteria on the periphery of the area covered by the historic monuments,” said Jayanta Malla Barua, chairman, Assam Tourism Development Corporation Limited (ATDCL).

In the case of Kaziranga, he said, private firms would work only on the periphery and not in the core area managed by the Forest Department.