Assam government today sanctioned Rs 50 lakh to preserve the house of doyen of Assam litterateur Lakshminath Bezbaroa at Sambalpur in Odisha.
"Assam government has accorded its sanction to release Rs 50 lakh to preserve Lakshminath Bezbaroa's house at Odisha's Sambalpur. Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal today gave his assent to the state government's efforts in preserving the house," an official release said.
A communique has also been sent to the Odisha government to this effect, which also stated that Assam is ready to bear any additional expenditure for the preservation of the house at Sambalpur.
Lakshminath Bezbaroa (18641938) is considered the pioneer of modern Assamese literature. He stayed at a house in Sambalpur in the later part of his life.
A state government team led by Cultural Affairs Minister Naba Kumar Doley and Chief Minister's Media Advisor Hrishikesh Goswami visited Odisha and met Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik along with Cultural Affairs Minister Ashok Kumar Panda in October last year.
They had signed an agreement with the Deputy Commissioner of Sambalpur in this regard.
Also Read
Sonowal had also talked to Patnaik over phone and sought Odisha government's support to preserve the house.
The statement said Assam government's intention of acquiring the house of singer and musician Dr Bhupean Hazarika in Kolkata has also been progressing in the right direction.
"Doley and Goswami on November 1 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.
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content