Guwahati, 20 September (HS): The Assam unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday said the state government under Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma was committed to protecting Assam’s cultural identity, preserving its heritage and accelerating overall development.

In a press statement, BJP Assam media panelist Amal Narayan Patowary welcomed Chief Minister Sarma’s visit to historic Gauripur and Madhupur Satra in Cooch Behar on Saturday, saying several important steps had been taken towards heritage conservation.

Patowary said the Chief Minister reviewed the progress of reconstruction and preservation of the historic Hawakhana on the banks of the Gadadhar river in Gauripur. He said the decision to reconstruct the site while retaining its traditional architectural features and using modern technology was commendable. The historic site is associated with cultural figures including Pramathesh Chandra Barua, Dr Bhupen Hazarika and Padma Shri Pratima Barua Pandey.

He said a museum dedicated to Pratima Barua Pandey would also be developed at the site, with a target of transforming Hawakhana into a major socio-cultural attraction within the next year.

Patowary also said the newly constructed building of the 108-year-old heritage Tamrhat Community Durga Temple in Dhubri district was dedicated to devotees ahead of the Durga Puja, describing it as a recognition of the region’s spiritual traditions.

On the development of Madhupur Satra in Cooch Behar, Patowary said the Assam government was working to transform the sacred site associated with Srimanta Sankardeva into a unique spiritual and cultural destination on the lines of the Batadrava project.

According to the statement, the Assam government has already earmarked ₹35 crore for the project, while the West Bengal government has expressed willingness to provide a grant of ₹30 crore. Patowary said coordination between the two neighbouring states could help develop Madhupur Satra into a major spiritual tourism destination in the Northeast and the country.

He said the BJP government under Sarma was working not only on infrastructure development but also on preserving the memories and historical heritage of previous generations for future generations.------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash