Ranchi: The state art and culture department has drawn up conservation plans for seven heritage sites across five districts and set the ball rolling to rope in national nonprofit Intach on nomination basis for the multi-crore job.
Speaking to this newspaper earlier this month, art and culture secretary Rahul Sharma listed the lucky seven as the old and new forts in Palamau, Jagannathpur Mandir and some ancient temples in Seraikela-Kharsawan, Tanginath temple and Navratnagarh in Gumla, Ichak temples in Hazaribagh and Itkhori temple complex in Chatra.
"After finalising detailed project reports made by Intach for each site, a state committee headed by development commissioner Amit Khare has given its nod. The department has now forwarded the file for the chief minister's consent," said Sharma, who too was part of the empowered panel.
The secretary added that Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) would be entrusted with supervision work. "It will be the second gateway after Intach to ensure everything follows plan."
Ashok Kumar Singh, director of state art and culture, told this correspondent on Sunday that around Rs 48 crore had been provisionally approved for the seven sites in the first phase.
The old and new Palamau forts were built by Raja Medini Rai of Chero dynasty around 400 years ago. They boast intricate carvings and Arabic calligraphy. Navratnagarh, the other fort on conservation radar, was built by the Nagvanshi rulers in the 19th century.
The Ichak temples are a cluster of five built by rulers of Ramgarh dynasty in the 18th century while the temples in Seraikela are smaller versions of the Puri shrine and were also built in the 18th century.
Tanginath, which is located on top of a 300ft hillock near Dumri block in Gumla, boasts 7th century relics and Itkhori temples, also dating back to 7th century, flaunt remains of Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism.
According to Singh, these seven sites are part of 26 heritage sites for which Rs 100 crore were approved by the 13th Finance Commission around four years ago. However, owing to various reasons such as delay in preparing detailed project reports and technical vetting, besides bureaucratic hurdles, the funds could not be used.
Only a British edifice in Ranchi, the Audrey House, was renovated and relaunched a year ago although critics still question the efficacy of the conservation effort.
"Funds won't be a problem since they are lying unused. Heritage sites where conservation work of 60 per cent or more is necessary, we want to rope in Intach on nomination basis," Singh confirmed.
In the past, he said, despite allocating funds to several districts individually, conservation work could not commence through independent agencies. And in places like Sahapur Fort in Palamau, work had to be stopped because of shoddy execution.
"Hence, we will not risk a chance again. Intach, along with ASI, will be roped in to save history," Singh summed it up.
