SIVASAGAR, Oct 23 � Cracks and fissures at various places on the walls of the historic Shiva Doul, built by the second queen Ambika of the Ahom king, Swargadeo Shiva Singha in 1731, have become a serious cause of concern for the people of Sivasagar. The Doul stands on the bank of the Borpukhuri (tank) in the heart of Sivasagar, its height being 104 feet (32 metres) and the perimeter being 195 feet (59 metres) at the base. It is capped by an eight-foot high golden dome.
After finding several fissures that appeared on the structure of the Shiva Doul caused probably by the recent earthquake, it seems that no care has been taken by the Archaeology Department, which is situated just 300 yards from Sivasagar, the priest of the temple and Ratan Saikia, general secretary of the development committee of the Shiva Doul told this correspondent. The president of the Ahom Royal Society, Sivasagar district, Monirul Islam Bora complained of step-motherly treatment to ancient monuments and relics for long by the government department. He added that the same negligent treatment was shown to the Ronghar, Asia�s ancient pavilion for sports, Ghanashyam Doul which is leaning now, Joymoti�s graveyard, which is almost extinct, the Gaurisagar Doul and the tank there, despite complaints, agitations and demands by the locals off and on.
It has been noted with concern that whereas maintenance is of a high standard and there is a regular check in case of the Quillas of Humayun and Akbar, the Kutub Minar or any other monuments in Delhi, the Tajmahal of Agra or the royal palaces belonging to the kings of Rajasthan or Mysore by the Archaeological department of India. The same Archaeological department is negligent in the case of maintenance of the relics and monuments in Sivasagar and North East India in general. It is a demand to the Government by the president of the Royal Ahom Society to check the activities of the Archaeological department in Assam. He warned of starting an agitation of a serious kind in the days to come if the demand is not met.
It needs to be mentioned that despite various protests and news in several newspapers regarding illegal construction within 300 metres from the periphery of the monuments, a private hotelier, bluntly violating the provisions of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (Amendment and Validation) Act, 2010, which prohibits construction work within 300 metres of monuments, has already completed the construction of hotel along the adjoining road between Doulmukh and Hospital Road.
Meanwhile, responsible citizens, and several organisations have wondered as to how the ASI which is supposed to work as a watchdog for preserving these ancient monuments, permitted the construction near the historic monument. The leaders of the organisations have threatened to intensify its protest if these monuments are not protected.
