Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI: The 135 archeological monuments and sites in Assam are victims of neglect arising out of cash crunch.
A reality check shows that the Directorate of Archeology, Assam has to make do with just 30 attendants. According to the standard norm, at least two attendants should be there to attend an archeological monument or site. Thus to attend the 135 monuments and sites in the State, the Directorate needs 270 attendants.
]Archeologists are indispensable for any archeological organization. The 135 monuments and sites in the State, according to standard norm, need at least 15 archeologists. The Directorate of Archeology in the State, however, has just three archeologists. Won’t such paucity of manpower have its cascading effects on the upkeep of the sites and monuments?
The situation is no better when it comes to conservation of monuments and their sites also. The 135 monuments and sites need 20-25 conservationists. The directorate, however, has only five conservationists.
The situation is no conducive for revenue generation either. According sources in the Directorate, only four of the 135 archeological monuments and sites in the State – Charaideo Maidam, Madan Kamdev, Nazirahat Archeological Site and Napukhuri in Sivasagar – have ticket system. The other monuments and sites in the State have free-of-cost visiting system.
Dispur tightening its purse string when it comes to funding the Directorate, according to sources, leads to cash crunch that does not allow it to do justice for the proper upkeep of the monuments and sites in the State.
A source in the Directorate said that the Charaideo Archeological site has already made it to the tentative list of the World Heritage Sites in 2014. The 2019-20 Budget has earmarked Rs 25 crore for promoting the site – to develop its infrastructure, fencing etc. According to sources in the Directorate, despite cash and manpower crunch the Directorate has been doing its best for the proper upkeep of the sites and monuments.
According to a source in the Directorate, within a month after assuming the charge of the archeology portfolio Minister Kashab Mahanta ensured gazette notification of 26 Mottock monuments – 21 in Tinsukia and five in Sadia.