Private participation sought to convert Lothal to museum

The state government is seeking the participation of private players, especially those connected to ports and the maritime industry, to develop Lothal, about 50 km away from Ahmedabad, as a museum and research centre.

Lothal was a key port city in the Mohen-Jo-Daro and Harappan civilisations, that flourished on the north-western belt of India about 5000 years ago. Besides, the state also aims to project Lothal as a major tourist attraction in Gujarat.

State chief minister Narendra Modi said that while the government will just act as a facilitator for the project, it will seek active participation from the industry, especially the players in the ports and maritime sectors in the state, for setting up the project.

"A core committee, comprising of members of the industry will be formed, and a corpus fund for setting up the museum and research centre will come from the industry itself. The government wants to just play the role of a facilitator," Modi said.

Modi, appealing to those in the maritime industry to come forward to developing Lothal as a museum and research centre, said that archaeological evidence has shown that a port existed at Lothal about 5000 years ago.

"The state government will soon convene a meeting of all industrialists involved in the ports and maritime industry, so that a core committee to implement the project will be formed," the chief minister said.

If Modi's plans are implemented, Lothal will have a museum, which will showcase all artfacts that were unearthed from Lothal and surrounding areas during excavations by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

The history of port development in Gujarat, will also be showcased at the museum. In addition, the place will also serve as one of the major tourist attraction spots in Gujarat, the chief minister said.

It may be stated that the central government has already adopted Dholavira in Gujarat as a major tourist attraction.

The union government, which has been developing sites under its policy of `centres of excellence', will spend Rs 2.30 crore at the site, where excavations have proven that civilisation existed over 5000 years ago.