ASI notice against illegal construction near Udayagiri

Kendrapada: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has issued notices to encroachers near the Buddhist site of Udayagiri, ordering them to immediately stop all illegal construction activities near the ASI-protected monument in Jajpur district.“We have also lodged a complaint with the police to take appropriate action against the encroachers,” ASI’s superintending archaeologist (Puri circle), Dr Dibishada Brajasundar Garnayak, said.The encroachers, however, have continued with the illegal construction despite the ASI notice, which was issued on April 2 under Section 20A of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958.The issue of illegal constructions by some people within the prohibited 200 meter area at the foot of the Buddhist site was first raised on March 15 by Godabari Santi, the sarpanch of Gopalpur panchayat, and others before the ASI.“ASI is treating this issue with utmost priority. In the recent past, ASI officials had urged the district administration several times to evict encroachers from the Buddhist sites, but nothing has happened yet,” Garnayak added.Upon contact, Jajpur collector Ambar Kumar Kar said, “We will soon take proper steps against the illegal construction work by the encroachers after examining land records and other documents.”The Buddhist sites of Lalitgiri, Udayagiri and Ratnagiri, known as “Diamond Triangle”, were added to Unesco’s Tentative List of World Heritage Sites this year in Jan for which these sites are being considered for future Unesco nomination. “We should conserve the monuments and not allow any illegal construction work around the sites,” Garnayak said.