SAMBALPUR (ODISHA): Two state officials of Assam came calling to the abandoned house of the doyen of Assamese literature Lakhminath Bezbaroa here, perturbed by news reports that the Odisha government was planning to demolish the decades-old building.
Cultural Affairs Minister of Assam, Naba Kumar Doley and Media Adviser to Assam Chief Minister, Hrikesh Goswami, today visited the house of Bezbaroa at the Nelson Mandela chowk in Sambalpur days after Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal's wrote to his Odisha counterpart Naveen Patnaik requesting him not to demolish Bezbaroa's house.
There was a plan to demolish two buildings of Bezbaroa, including the house where he was residing and the house which he used as an office, to pave way for construction of an approach road to the under construction second bridge over the river Mahanadi and development of rotary junction at the Nelson Mandela Chowk.
The single-storied house where Bezbaroa lived and the two-storied house that he used as an office during his stay here between 1917 and 1937 as an employee of railway sleeper maker Bird are close to each other and spreads over two acres of land.
The Assamese officials bowed before entering the house. Later, they called on the District Collector, Samarth Verma, to discuss about conserving the property of Bezbaroa in Sambalpur.
Doley said, "I am satisfied with the discussion that was held with the district collector here. They are taking all steps to save the property." He also said that they would take up the matter with the Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik tomorrow for preservation of the buildings.
"As per the existing DPR and layout, both the houses, which were used as residence and office by the renowned Assamese writer, are being affected for the development of rotary junction at the Nelson Mandela Chowk," said Sambalpur District Collector, Samarth Verma.
The collector said, all efforts will be made to preserve both the houses and for that, necessary modification in the design will be considered by the Public Works Department (PWD).
"I have discussed with the PWD officials to change the design. They have also sent the proposal to the architect," the collector said.
Convener of Bezbaroa Smruti Committee, Deepak Panda said, the house, which was being used as office by Bezbaroa, will certainly remain protected. Efforts will also be made to protect the house where Bezbaroa lived. Joint efforts will be taken up by both Assam and Odisha governments to preserve the existing buildings. PTI CORR AAM JM .
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.