Nearly 80 years after his death, the Assam Government has sanctioned Rs 50 lakh on Friday for preservation of the house of doyen of Assamese literature lakshminath Bezbaroa at Sambalpur in Odisha.

Sonowal gave his assent to the State Government’s efforts in preserving the house on Friday and sent a communication to the Government of Odisha stating that the Assam Government is also ready to bear any additional expenditure that incurs while preserving the historical house.

It may be noted that under the instruction of Chief Minister Sonowal, a State Government delegation led by Cultural Affairs Minister Naba Kumar Doley and chief minister’s Media Advisor Hrishikesh Goswami visited Odisha and met Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Odisha Cultural Affairs Minister Ashok Kumar Panda last year expressing the government’s wish to preserve the historical house in Sambalpur.

The delegation also signed an agreement with the Deputy Commissioner of Sambalpur in presence of a few eminent personalities belonging to culture and journalists for preservation of the House.

The Assam Chief Minister also spoke to Patnaik over phone and sought Odisha Government’s support to preserve the house.

In view of the requests of Sonowal and considering the inherent emotions of the people of Assam associated with the house, Odisha Government has already put its stamp of approval for the preservation of the house.

“Today we have released Rs 50 lakh to take the work to its logical conclusion. We have also stated the Odisha Government that any additional amount required for the purpose would also be sent to the Government of Odisha,” Sonowal said.

Meanwhile, the Government’s intention of acquiring the house of Dr. Bhupean Hazarika at Tollygunge in Kolkata has progressed well in the right direction. Cultural Affairs Minister Naba Kumar Doley and chief minister’s Media Advisor on November 1 last year held a discussion with the owner of the house Sushil Kumar Dangi at Assam House, Kolkata and later an agreement was also signed with the owner for transfer of possession of the house to Assam Government.

The proposal would be introduced in the State Cabinet for its approval to acquire the Dr. Bhupen Hazarika’s house by Government of Assam.