Tripura minister concerned over poor maintence of archaeological sites

From A Correspondent

Agartala, Jan 12 : The minister for tourism Ratan Bhawmik expressed grave concern over ill maintence of archaeological sites in Tripura and said many of the exquisite objects are already in the borderline of getting destroyed. He is especially worried over the fate of three most ancient archaeological sites of the state the Ukoti, Pilak and Boxgar which are being looked after by the Archaeological Survey of India. The eighth century site Ukoti in Unokoti district in the northern Tripura is a shaybite site and believed to have one short of a crore of images of deities were there. Pilak in South Tripura district is a 12th century site where Buddhist and Hindu culture co-existed and the Boxgar is an old Buddhist Stupa.

The minister said the state government has handed over Rs 1.13 crore to ASI in last five years but they are not showing much interest in maintaining the sites. The state government on many occasions wrote to the union minister for tourism to look into the matter but all went in vain. He said the state government has even proposed to hand over the sites to the state government and it is possible to maintain with the help of district administration.

The minister said the state government has taken some initiative to attract tourists and at this moment highest importance is being given to beating retreat parade like Wagha border being jointly organised by the BSF and BGB every evening in Akhaura border. He said good number of people is visiting the parade every evening and a special project has been taken to add some more facilities for the tourists. Work for another project to construct visitors’ gallery, a conference hall is going to begin at Kamala Sagar border hut.

He said the state government has allotted land at Shiihani near Agartala Air Port to construct a four star hotel by a Hyadrabad based company garjun Constructions.