Demand for allocation of land for Paika memorial intensifies

Bhubaneswar: Raising the pitch for allocation of land for the proposed Paika Rebellion Memorial at Barunei on the foothills in Khurda district, the National Council for Martial Arts and Culture (NCMAC) also met the Governor on Sunday seeking his intervention to expedite the matter.

An 18-member delegation of NCMAC led by senior BJP leader and president of the council Biswabhushan Harichandan met Governor Ganeshi Lal at Raj Bhawan and submitted a memorandum in this regard.

While expressing resentment over the delay, the council alleged that despite a grant of Rs 100 crore from the Centre and Rs 90 crore from Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL), the State government is yet to allocate land for the proposed memorial to commemorate the Paika rebellion.

Harichandan also apprised the governor about the letter the Union Minister of State for Culture Mahesh Sharma had written to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in March to provide 50 acres of land in the foothills of Barunei hills for the construction of the memorial.

“If the CM respects Odia community and is concerned about the conservation and preservation of its culture, heritage and tradition, he should take steps to allot the land within five to six days,” stated the senior BJP leader.