Odisha government would take up the renovation work of Sambalpur house Lakhminath Bezbaroa

Sambalpur:31/10/17; Odisha government would take up the renovation work of Sambalpur house Lakhminath Bezbaroa, the legendary Assamese literature.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced this after two state officials of Assam met him today seeking conservation of the dilapidated house of the great Assamese literary genius.

The Bezbaroa Bhawan would come up with the refurbishment of literature’s old house at Sambalpur. The Assam government would spend Rs 50 lakh for the purpose, said officials.

It may be recalled here that Cultural Affairs Minister of Assam, Naba Kumar Doley and Media Adviser to Assam Chief Minister, Hrikesh Goswami, had yesterday visited the house of Bezbaroa at the Nelson Mandela chowk in Sambalpur days amid media reports of Sambalpur district administration’s plan to demolish the decades-old building.

Earlier Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda had written to his Odisha counterpart Naveen Patnaik requesting him not to demolish Bezbaroa’s house.

There was a plan to demolish two buildings of Bezbaroa, including the house where he was residing and the house which he used as an office, to pave way for construction of an approach road to the under construction second bridge over the river Mahanadi and development of rotary junction at the Nelson Mandela Chowk. However it has been shelved, said officials.

The single-storied house where Bezbaroa lived and the two-storied house that he used as an office during his stay here between 1917 and 1937 as an employee of railway sleeper maker Bird are close to each other and is spread over two acres of land.

“As per the existing DPR and layout, both the houses, which were used as residence and office by the renowned Assamese writer, are being affected for the development of rotary junction at the Nelson Mandela Chowk,” said Sambalpur District Collector, Samarth Verma.

The collector said, all efforts will be made to preserve both the houses and for that, necessary modification in the design will be considered by the Public Works Department (PWD).

“I have discussed with the PWD officials to change the design. They have also sent the proposal to the architect,” the collector said.