Hayagriva-Madhava temple at Hajo. Picture by Eastern Projections

Guwahati, July 25: The Archaeological Survey of India is at loggerheads with the Kamrup district administration for carrying out “unauthorised” construction in the vicinity of a protected historical monument.

An official source said the ASI has lodged a complaint with the state government over construction of a permanent structure by the Kamrup district administration within the precincts of an ASI-protected 16th century temple in Hajo, about 25km northwest of Guwahati.

The ASI has written to chi-ef secretary P.C. Sarma accusing the district administration of violating the provisions of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, and Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Rules, 1959, by building a house within the precincts of the ancient shrine. The house will be used to serve meals to the pilgrims.

The ASI stated that accor-ding to the law, no new construction is permitted within the periphery of the temple as it has been declared a monument of national importance.

A monument needs to be more than 100 years old bearing archaeological, religious, historical, architectural or cultural significance to become eligible for declaration as a monument of national importance. The issue has become a bone of contention between the ASI and the district administration as the former has also filed a complaint at the Hajo police station.

In 1583, Koch king Raghudev constructed the Hayagriva-Madhava temple atop Manikut Hill, where the presiding deity is Vishnu with the head of a horse. Hajo was included in the protected list of the ASI early this year. At present, efforts are on to protect the temple. Monks believe that the Buddha attained Nirvana at this shrine.

An official of the Guwahati circle of the ASI said the Kamrup district administration had ignored repeated pleas to stop construction.

“No new construction is allowed in the vicinity of protected monuments as it affects the heritage value and aesthetic appeal. It is unfortunate that the district administration, whose job is to help protect the monument, is the offender here,” the ASI official said. He added that the ASI is contemplating legal action against the district administration.

Kamrup deputy commissioner R.C. Jain admitted receiving a letter from the ASI on this matter. “We are going to move the director-general of the ASI in New Delhi to approve the construction,” Jain said. He, however, could not explain how the construction was made without taking the permission of the ASI.