Heritage site in MP suffering

In spite of a hefty growth rate of 450 per cent in Central support for the upgrade of tourist destinations for Madhya Pradesh, world heritage sites like Bhimbethika remain ignored. During the last four years, the Centre has sanctioned and disbursed more than Rs 100 crore.

Bhimbetika, which lies 46 km south of Bhopal and believed to be among the oldest historical sites in the world, dates back to the Neolithic or Palaeolithic age.

It is recognised as the biggest repository of prehistoric art in India, where 600 rock shelters depict one of the earliest dwellings of human beings and narrates a 35,000-year-old history.

According to the Hindu mythology, Bhima, one of the Pandava brothers in the Mahabharata, once sat here during the 12 years of his exile.

Top officials of the Madhya Pradesh Department of Tourism and Madhya Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation were not available for comment but sources said, "Barring a project of Rs 7.15 crore for the combined upgrade of Bhojpur, Sanchi, Bhopal, Bhimbetika and Pachmarhi, Bhimbethika has never figured in any of the tourist destinations upgradation projects."

"Central government has funded Rs 10,811.97 lakh during the last four years and more than Rs 4,000 lakh is expected by end of this financial year," a source in tourism development corporation told Business Standard adding, "There is an increase of 450 per cent in fund flow for tourist development but no one knows where this money goes."

"We do not have the facility to offer even a glass of water at the site," said sources in state tourism and archaeological departments who are deployed at the site.

Tourists also skip Bhimbetika since the gates of a railway crossing on its way always remain closed. The prehistoric caves, which are known as the portal to ancient gallery of human civilisation, preserve some fascinating cave paintings on earth.

Although the tourist department does not have any data to record the number of tourists who visit Bhimbetika, the employees, who are deployed on a pittance at the world's most ignored tourist destination, said, "As many as 25 people visit the site every day but hardly anyone hires guides." The entire site is bereft of basic amenities, safety and security.