• Gauhati High Court orders Assam government to address Kamakhya access corridor issue

    Regional
    Gauhati High Court orders Assam government to address Kamakhya access corridor issue
    Petitioners who identified as followers of 'Maa Kamakhya,' the 'Dasa Mahavidyas,' and Nilachal Hill demand their right to practice their religion..........


    Digital desk: The Assam government has been directed by the Gauhati High Court to respond to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that opposes the construction of the proposed 'Maa Kamakhya Temple Access Corridor' in Assam. Under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act of 1958, the petition expresses concerns about the lack of prior clearances and approvals from the Department of Archaeology.

    Senior government advocate D Nath and assistant advocate general D Saikia accepted the notice on behalf of the state, and Chief Justice Vijay Bishnoi and Justice Suman Shyam gave the state government a two-week opportunity to make its answer.

    The petition, which was submitted by the devotee Gitika Bhattacharya along with 12 other people, requests information on the planned corridor's development and guarantees that it won't harm or block the temple's historic buildings, such as the 'Dasa Mahavidyas' and the hallowed Nilachal Hill. 

    The government must secure the required authorizations and clearances under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, according to the petition, to protect historically significant monuments that date back more than 2,000 years.

    Petitioners who identified as followers of 'Maa Kamakhya,' the 'Dasa Mahavidyas,' and Nilachal Hill demand their right to practice their religion and voice concerns about possible damage to the site's sanctity.

    The Rs. 498 crore Kamakhya corridor project was first inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the intention of serving as a gateway for tourism to the Northeast. The PIL however, emphasize how important it is to find a balance between development plans and the protection of cultural and archeological heritage.