GUWAHATI, March 24 - The Assam Chapter of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) is communicating with the State government seeking financial support for a project on documentation of temples and historical monuments located on the Nilachal hillock in the city.
Disclosing this at a press conference here on Saturday, INTACH Assam Chapter co-convenor and former bureaucrat Swapnanil Barua said that no survey has been conducted so far to ascertain the exact number of temples and historical monuments located on Nilachal hillock, which is an inseparable part of the socio-cultural heritage of the people of Assam.
There is neither any survey nor any engineering drawing on any of these structures. And therefore, it is feared that many of the structures of antique value located on this hillock have been lost to oblivion, he said.
The INTACH Assam Chapter is also contemplating steps to generate public awareness for conserving Assamese songs, Assam-type buildings and their structural and architectural forte, among others. Its Kamrup wing has undertaken moves to generate awareness among the people on the need to conserve the natural environment, he said.
INTACH Assam Chapter has also completed a task to conserve the foundation of the historic North Brook Gate in the city and communication with the State government is on, seeking support for ornamentation of the gate, Barua said.
INTACH Kamrup Chapter co-convenor Milton Queah told mediapersons that they were trying to secure recognition for the water resources, hills and floral diversity of the State, also as parts of the State people�s heritage. INTACH Kamrup Chapter took water as the theme of an art -cum-essay competition for schoolchildren this year, he added.
INTACH Assam Chapter convenor Prof Shiela Bora said the organisation is preparing a list of old heritage buildings of Guwahati city, and is also studying the means to conserve these heritage structures. These structures include the century-old Mahamaya Cabin at Panbazar, and the double-storey wooden residential house of the Baruas of Latasil, she said.
