New Delhi/Bhubaneswar: Bargarh MP Pradip Purohit has urged Home Minister Amit Shah to visit the Gandhamardan hills, spanning 18,963.898 hectare over Balangir and Bargarh districts in Odisha.
“Such a visit would not only enhance the significance of Gandhamardan but also strengthen conservation and development efforts,” he said in a memorandum.
Purohit met Shah in New Delhi and submitted the memorandum on Monday, highlight the historical, cultural, religious and ecological significance of hills while emphasising on the urgent need for its protection and conservation.
“The Gandhamardan mountain range is not only a biodiversity hotspot but also a symbol of Odisha’s religious, mythological and historical heritage. Protecting it is crucial for future generations,” he said
The MP mentioned about ancient shrines, including the revered Nrusingnath and Harishankar temples, on the Gandhamardan mountain range. To underscore its historical relevance, he cited references from Chinese traveller Xuanzang’s book Si-Yu-Ki which mentions a Buddhist monastery in the region where renowned philosopher Nagarjuna served as a pro-rector.
He also drew the Union Home Minister attention to the Congress regime when mining leases were granted to BALCO for 47 years, causing significant environmental damage and affecting the sentiments of local communities. And later, how the mining activities were stopped through a sustained people’s movement.
Purohit also requested Shah for inclusion of Sambalpuri/Kosali, the dominant language of western Odisha, in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution and its recognition as the official language of Odisha.
