Assam government sanctions Rs 50 lakh to preserve Lakshminath Bezbaruah’s residence in Odisha

Assam government on Friday has sanctioned Rs 50 lakh to preserve the residence of eminent litterateur of Assam Lakshminath Bezbaruah at Sambalpur in Odisha.

An official release said, "Assam government has accorded its sanction to release Rs 50 lakh to preserve Lakshminath Bezbaruah's house at Odisha's Sambalpur. Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal today gave his assent to the state government's efforts in preserving the house".

A notification has also been sent to the Odisha government to this effect and has also stated that Assam is ready to bear any additional expenditure for the preservation of the house.

Lakshminath Bezbaruah (1864-1938) is considered the pioneer of modern Assamese literature, leading the later part of his life he stayed at that house in Sambalpur.

A state government team led by Cultural Affairs Minister Naba Kumar Doley and Chief Minister's Media Advisor Hrishikesh Goswami had visited Odisha and met Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik along with Cultural Affairs Minister Ashok Kumar Panda in October 2017.

During the meeting they had signed an agreement with the Deputy Commissioner of Sambalpur in this regard.

Sonowal had also spoken to Patnaik over phone and sought Odisha government's support to preserve the house.

The statement stated that Assam government's intention of acquiring the house of the legend Dr Bhupen Hazarika in Kolkata has also been progressing in the right direction.

"Doley and Goswami on November 01 last year held a discussion with the owner of the house Sushil Kumar Dangi at Assam House, Kolkata. An agreement was also signed with the owner at Guwahati for transfer of possession of the house," the statement added.

The proposal would be introduced in the State Cabinet for its approval to acquire the house by Assam Government, it said.

(With inputs from PTI)