Assam drops 4 sites from ‘adopt a heritage’ scheme after protests
Centre has agreed to remove four sites in Assam from its “Adopt a Heritage” scheme after the state government stated its reservations and influential groups protested against the project, alleging that this would lead to privatisation of public places.
State tourism minister Chandan Brahma announced on Friday the Centre’s decision to strike off from the list the world-famous Kaziranga national park and three medieval monuments in Sivasagar, built by Ahom kings who ruled Assam from 1228 to 1826. The decision was taken after Brahma led a delegation to Union tourism minister KJ Alphons on Friday and informed him about the resentment the scheme has created in the state. “In view of public opinion against the scheme and our reservations, we met the Union minister. He has agreed to remove the sites in Assam from the scheme,” Brahma said.
The All Assam Students Union (Aasu), the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) and several other groups have opposed the decision to put the four sites on the scheme’s list, which President Ram Nath Kovind launched in September last year.
The Union tourism ministry’s project includes nearly 100 sites, including the Red Fort in New Delhi and Charminar in Hyderabad, where private companies and individuals will be allowed to develop, operate and maintain “world-class tourist infrastructure”. Other than Kaziranga, the central list includes the eighthcentury amphitheatre Rang Ghar, a red-brick Ahom royal palace named Kareng Ghar, and a shrine dedicated to god Shiva, the Siba Doul. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) takes care of the Ahom-era monuments, while Kaziranga is on the state forest department’s watch.
The scheme triggered protests as it was alleged that these sites, all symbols of regional pride, would be handed to private companies to develop amenities such as toilets, parking spaces and eateries. The groups were not convinced that the private companies’ control would be limited to bare basics.
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