Assam legislative assembly passed Heritage Bill 2020

GUWAHATI: The Assam Assembly, on Wednesday, passed 'The Assam Heritage (tangible) Protection, Preservation, Conservation and Maintenance Bill-2020'.

The targeted sites and items must have been in existence for not less than 75 years. The list includes religious institutions like the xattras, monasteries, stupas, naamghars, mosques, dargahs, churches, besides social and cultural institutions.

It will also shield habitation structures having traditional architecture, heritage sites, heritage building structures, monuments, precincts areas or sites, artifacts, sculptures, paintings, handicrafts, and manuscripts as well.

Taking part in the discussion in the House, Archaeology Minister Keshab Mahanta said, "So far, there was no legislation to protect and preserve such tangible heritage sites and items. This Bill will develop, restore and promote these heritages to safeguard them from encroachments and damages in alignment with the objective contained in Clause 6 of the Assam Accord 1985. It will also ensure legislative and administrative safeguards to the heritages across Assam."

After the Bill was passed by the Assembly, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal thanked the members of the House saying that "it will definitely help in protecting the cultural heritages of the people of Assam."

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