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| File picture of stone carving works unearthed while excavation for a boundary work |
Bhubaneswar, Jan. 10: The tehsildar of Barang has started collecting the land records of Churanga Garh and adjoining areas following an order by the revenue department.
The fort, a historic site, has been facing a threat from realtors. The Telegraph, in a story titled “Custodian threat to the fort” on November 21, had highlighted the issue.
The local revenue office under Barang tahsil has asked all the parties concerned to come up with the land records pertaining to the area as more than 1,100 acres of land under Churanga Garh is a protected site under the Archeological Survey of India (ASI).
The proposed construction is to take place on 29.26 acres of a defunct industrial unit in the area, which is part of the protected historical site.
The ASI had given permission to an industrial house to use portions of land, on the city outskirts to undertake real estate activities.
A group of conservation activists had protested the ASI move saying that the land might contain vestiges of archeological remains.
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| The report published in The Telegraph on November 21, 2013 |
Barang tahsildar, Saroj Kumar Mohanty, said: “Following the directive of the revenue divisional commissioner checking of land records has begun. The land belonging to the industrial house dates back to early 1950s. We are facing a tough time and have asked them and the conservation activists to help us in getting the old land records. After that we have to verify them and examine the purpose for which the land was given and what is its present status.’’
Revenue sources said after collecting the old land records the measurement staff of the tehsil office would conduct a survey to know the exact amount of the land in question. Any further action can be taken only after that.
Conservation activist and historian, Prafulla Tripathy, said: “This is a positive development, but the state government should take the responsibility to cordon the protected area. The ASI must start excavation work so that more and more historical facts come to light.”
In the past we have found many artefacts in the Churanga Garh fort area, but neither the local police nor the local administration could protect this treasure.
“The Odisha government should take immediate steps to protect Churanga Garh, otherwise it would be lost to urbanisation like Sisupalgarh,’’ he added.