An under-construction temple at Sishupalgarh. Picture by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, Aug. 16: Illegal excavation is posing a serious threat to the historic ruins at Sisupalgarh, a site protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

In the past, real estate developers had made constructions around the ancient site in violation of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (Amendment and Validation) Act, 2010, which prohibits any development activity within 300 metres of such monuments.

Now, they have excavated an 80-100 feet wide area near the place where the fortified settlements once existed. Digging is on at four places to build approach roads to the site from the Gangotrinagar side.

Sources said while illegal excavation was carried out near the fort wall to open a road near lane No. 1 of Gangotrinagar, a similar exercise has been undertaken to link lane No. 2 with the fort area. The real estate developers are also digging at two places near lane No. 3 of Gangotrinagar.

Professor Sadasiba Pradhan of Utkal University said: “People should know that damaging a national monument is equal to killing a human being. The ASI authorities should immediately file a formal complaint with the local police.”

“Since the historic settlement of Sisupalgarh is listed as national monument, both the ASI and the state government should act seriously to keep it intact. But it seems no one cares,” said Akshaya Rath, a businessman from Old Town.

Last year, local residents discovered a tunnel-like excavation inside the fort following which ASI authorities filed an FIR with Lingaraj police complaining against the damage to the pillars, which, according to historians, was part of the palace.

ASI deputy superintending archaeologist Hemsagar A. Naik said: “An assistant conservator has filed an FIR with the Lingaraj police regarding the damage to the earthen walls of the fort site. A team of experts also visited the site, studied the circumstances and enquired about the encroachment and vandalism.” He, however, said: “Since it’s the state government’s responsibility to keep law and order, trespassing should be checked by them.”

Answering a question on the buying of at least the 16 acres of core area of the fort to start excavation, a senior ASI official said: “Generally, in such a situation, the state government must provide the land after acquisition or help the ASI to get them. Because of the high price of land, the ASI is unable to procure even the core area.”

According to ancient texts, Sisupalgarh was capital of the ancient Kalinga during the rule of Chedi Dynasty, which had Kharavela as its most powerful king. The ruins of Sisupalgarh represented a well-planned fortified city that was excavated by archaeologist B.B. Lal in 1948-49 in collaboration with the state government.

Ten years ago, there were less than 250 houses including those at the old Sisupalgarh village. Now, the number of houses and plotting schemes has exceeded 1,000.