Satish Jaggi took charge as Chairman of the Sirpur Development Special Area Authority (SDAA) in the presence of Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Thursday.
The event was held at the Circuit House at Sirpur in Mahasamund district.
Baghel told the gathering: “Efforts are being made to make Chhattisgarh be recognized at the global level through Sirpur.”
He said Sirpur is a historical place dating back to about 1,500 years. Hiuen Tsang, a Chinese Buddhist monk and traveller, and Nagarjuna, a Buddhist philosopher, spent some time here.
“Sirpur was the capital as well as a centre of education. The Mahanadi river served as a medium for trade. We all have to develop Sirpur as a Buddhist circuit,” he said.
The government wants to develop the ancient city of Sirpur as an international heritage site, he said.