Puri: The Puri chapter of Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) was launched at the Sri Sadashiv Campus Auditorium of the Central Sanskrit University.
The Puri chapter was declared open by Odisha’s Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida, in the presence of Satyabadi MLA Om Prakash Mishra.
This is INTACH’s 14th chapter in Odisha.
The Deputy CM assured all possible support from the state government in implementation of INTACH’s mission. She highlighted the various schemes and projects that the Odisha government had undertaken for boosting tourism.
Dr Adyasha Das, co-convener of the Bhubaneswar chapter, provided a preview of the status of tourism, eco-tourism, pilgrim sites and the vital role that the state’s heritage can play in boosting tourism.
Former Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik, former minister K Singhdeo and ex-PM Rajiv Gandhi were among the founder members of INTACH in 1984 in Delhi, informed INTACH’s member secretary Rabindra Singh IAS (retd) informed.
The goal was to create a voluntary organisation to stimulate and spearhead heritage awareness and conservation in India.
Subash Chandra Rath, convener of the Puri chapter, said that it has been formed with 50 life members with support and involvement of nearly 100 well-wishers comprising researchers, writers, heritage activists, temple sevayats, artists and representatives of cultural, educational and social service organisations of the district.
Dr Biswajit Mohanty, state convener of Odisha, explained the mission of INTACH and its four decades of glorious journey as India’s premier organisation of its kind that has got global recognition. He elaborated the major achievements of Odisha state chapter.
Eminent historian, researcher and writer Anil Dhir, co-convener of Odisha chapter, lamented the precarious state of Odisha heritage and detailed the spate of idol thefts. He emphasised the need for setting up a dedicated cell in Odisha Police for heritage-related crimes.
