Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma visited the historic Sri Sri Madhupur Satra in Cooch Behar, West Bengal, on Saturday, September 19. He called for a joint effort between the two state governments to preserve the site linked to the legacy of Mahapurusha Srimanta Sankardeva. The mission is clear. Both states must cooperate to protect this cultural landmark.
Sarma offered prayers at the site and met with the Satradhikar to discuss development plans. The Assam government has already set aside Rs 35 crore for infrastructure upgrades at the location. Officials confirmed the funding matches reports coming out of West Bengal. Sarma wants more room for the project. He intends to ask the West Bengal government for additional land to expand the site.
“If they give us land, it will help us make it a big project. If not, whatever land is available, we will try to develop it there and safeguard it,” Sarma said. Expanding the site remains the priority.
Beyond site preservation, Sarma proposed a new religious tourism circuit. This would link Batradrava Than in the Nagaon district of Assam with the Madhupur Satra. The plan aims to help researchers and devotees trace the life and philosophy of Sankardeva. Sarma wants a delegation from West Bengal to visit Batradrava Than to jumpstart the connection.
The Chief Minister arrived at the site with a team including Assam ministers Ashok Singhal and Ashwini Roy Sarkar. They were joined by West Bengal minister Nishith Pramanik and MLAs Ajoy Roy and Sukumar Roy. Earlier on the same day, Sarma participated in a blood donation drive at the BJP headquarters in Guwahati to mark the first death anniversary of singer Zubeen Garg.
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