Vikramshila (Bhagalpur), March 6: The three-day-long Vikramshila Mahotsav, which concluded late last night, has brought the spotlight back on Vikramshila Mahavihara, the ancient Buddhist seat of learning.

The ASI has committed Rs 3 crore for undertaking conservation and maintenance work of this site which has been partially excavated so far.

The Mahavihara (monastery), located at Antichak hamlet, around 39 km north-east of Bhagalpur, was set up towards the end of 8th century by Dharmapal of Pala dynasty.

Bhagalpur MP Syed Shahnawaz Hussain had recently called on Union minister of art and culture Kumari Selja, requesting her to take steps for the upkeep of this important historical site.

Hussain is not the first politician from the region to make efforts to draw the attention of the authorities towards the site. Former Bihar chief minister Bhagwat Jha Azad, who also represented Bhagalpur in the Lok Sabha, too had made efforts for the conservation of Vikramshila Mahavihara. It was on Jha’s initiative that the ASI started the excavation work on this ancient seat of learning.

Expressing happiness over the latest development, Hussain said the ASI was in the process of making a detailed project report (DPR) after which the funds would be released for the conservation and maintenance of this site.

ASI sources said though the details of the DPR would be finalised by top officials, yet work like construction of a boundary wall around the protected site would certainly start. “Setting up a library near the Mahavihara is another work which the ASI intends to do using the funds sanctioned for this site,” added the source.