Bhubaneswar: The rich history and culture of Odisha need to be showcased to the world through the preservation and beautification of its ancient historical monuments. This was emphasised in a high-level meeting held at Lok Seva Bhavan, where Deputy Chief Minister Parvati Parida, Law and Public Works Minister Prithviraj Harichandan, and Odia Language, Literature and Culture Minister Suryabansi Suraj discussed the protection and promotion of the state’s heritage sites.
The meeting highlighted that Odisha has over 3,000 heritage sites, with only 82 being maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India and 212 by the State Archaeological Survey. The remaining sites need proper maintenance and beautification to attract tourists. Deputy Chief Minister Parida stressed the need for a task force to coordinate with the Tourism, Culture, and Heritage Departments to take forward this work.
Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan emphasised the importance of peripheral development and good road connectivity to promote tourism. He suggested geo-tagging ancient temples and improving areas related to Jagannath culture. He also proposed building a corridor connecting all Shakti Peethas in the state.
Culture Minister Suryabansi Suraj highlighted the need to protect and preserve historical monuments, citing examples of Odisha’s monuments being sold abroad for crores of rupees. He suggested focusing on protecting 75 historical monuments in the first phase, keeping in mind the 75th birth anniversary of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The meeting was attended by officials from various departments, including the Odia Language, Literature and Culture Department, Tourism Department, and Public Works Department. The officials will work together to prepare profiles of ancient heritage sites and develop a plan to promote Odisha’s rich cultural heritage.
