Urging to expedite the renovation work of the historic Brabati Fort (Gadakhai) in Cuttack, BJD Rajya Sabha members Dr Sasmita Patra and Subash Singh submitted a memorandum to Union Minister for Tourism and Culture G Kissan Reddy on Friday.
The Union Government had sanctioned Rs 17.25 crore in the years 2007-09 under the Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme for Small and Medium Town Programme to excavate and reconstruct the moat around the Barbati Fort. The objective behind the project was to beautify the fort, thereby making it an attractive tourist place. But no concrete steps have been taken in this direction.
The memorandum also mentioned that while the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) would execute the work in coordination with the State Government, parts of the work were also assigned to the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC).
On a question of the Subash Singh in Rajya Sabha, the Minister had stated that fund has already been sanctioned and soon the ASI would start work.
“But three months have already passed since the assurance of the Minister. Neither the ASI has started work nor handed over the work to the State Government,” said Singh.
Singh added because it is a heritage and has archeological significance and a major portion of the area is under prohibitory zone, the State Government, the Cuttack district administration and the CMC are unable to develop the area.