The historic remains of Sishupalgarh in Bhubaneswar. Pictures by Sanjib mukherjee

Bhubaneswar, May 4: With people discovering a tunnel-like structure close to Sisupalgarh — a monument protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) — on Monday night, the issue of protection of the historical site has once again come to the fore.

Historical monuments are protected under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (Amendment and Validation) Act, 2010 but the implementation of the law often leaves much to be desired.

Sisupalgarh dates back to 300 BC. It was probably the seat of power of the ancient kingdom of Kalinga.

Last night, a resident of Sisupalgarh noticed a bull trapped in a field nearby. He discovered that the cattle had got ambushed because of subsidence of land. When he and other residents rescued the animal, they were surprised to see a tunnel-like structure underground.

Suresh Jena, a local resident, said: “A boy went inside and hit the side wall at the bottom where he found a roof like structure. We thought that the experts from the ASI would visit the spot, but they are yet to turn up’’

Another local resident, Sakuntala Harichandan, added: “We heard that some villagers have noticed snakes inside the tunnel. So many were apprehensive of going near it.”

Hemasagar A. Naik, deputy-superintending archaeologist, Bhubaneswar ASI Circle, said: “We will send a technical team with our photographer to the spot. The structure could be a well. Even in the past we had found several such structures around the protected site. But we have to wait for the report of our experts to arrive at a conclusion.”

Hearing about the tunnel-like structure, state convenor of Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), Amiya Bhusan Tripathy, said: “First a team of experts has to visit the spot and make an analysis. But it is sad that the entire area has been converted into a concrete jungle and the history buried under the modern structures.”

“On behalf of INTACH we had filed a public interest litigation (PIL) petition in the Orissa High Court in February 2007 but till date no action has been taken to save the precious 563 acre of historical land around the monument. Neither the state government nor the ASI did anything significantly to protect it from land sharks, encroachments and illegal occupation,” he added.

According to ASI sources, the land around Sisupalgarh was primarily agricultural type, but subsequently the revenue officials converted it to residential area.

But strangely after conversion the local people started construction of buildings within the protected area and the ASI authorities remained a silent spectator.

“While the ASI remained silent due to its inadequate resources and manpower, the government decision to convert the land into residential area was undoubtedly a motivated one, most probably at the behest of a nexus that stood to gain from such a decision,’’ said the PIL.

As per an ASI notification, formation of the state monument authority has been made through which the state archaeology has been designated as the competent authority. But the regulations around protected, prohibited, and regulated areas of the monument of national importance have not been adhered to in case of Sisupalgarh.