IEP Chandigarh, September 10, 2022
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Saturday directed the officials of the Archaeological Survey of India to swiftly complete the excavation work of the protected site at Rakhigarhi. Besides this, the security of these historical sites should also be ensured so that no person can cause any damage to these sites. State Government is ready to extend all possible help in this work, assured Khattar.
The Chief Minister gave this direction while chairing an important meeting with the officials today regarding the development of this area as an archaeological site. The meeting was held at the under-construction museum building in Rakhigarhi. Development and Panchayats Minister Devender Singh Babli also present in the meeting.
He said that Rakhigarhi has historical importance, hence safeguarding these mounds is of utmost importance. Proper security arrangements will be ensured by the police here after having a discussion with the Director General of Police. Besides this, the Archaeological Survey of India, on its behalf, should also ensure the deployment of private guards to ensure additional security. Furthermore, no soil excavation in the protected area should also be ensured.
The Chief Minister directed the officials of the Archaeological Survey of India to formulate a master plan for all the 11 mounds of Rakhigarhi. He said that a long-term rehabilitation policy should be formulated for the rehabilitation of the displaced.
While drafting the policy, emphasis on ensuring the means of livelihood of such rehabilitated families should be given along with providing them the best residential facility. Arrangements should be made for rehabilitation by talking to the villagers with the help of local MLAs, Panch-Sarpanches, said Khattar.
The Chief Minister said that Panchayat and Animal Husbandry Department should jointly prepare a plan for such displaced families who are doing animal husbandry work. Under this, the Panchayat land should be given on lease to the Animal Husbandry Department and the Animal Husbandry Department should construct a combined shed or separate small sheds for 10-20 animals on the said land. Accordingly, these sheds can be given to such families for livestock, directed Khattar.
The Chief Minister said that a Home Stay Policy has been prepared by the Haryana Government, under which the villagers can offer one or two rooms in their houses to the tourists. For this, licenses will be given by the tourism department. With this Home Stay Policy, the people of Rakhigarhi will get new employment opportunities. The State Government aims to popularize the homestay culture in the State, so that while the local people get new employment, the tourists also get a chance to know the culture of Haryana closely, asserted Khattar. Citing the example of Tikkar Taal in Morni Hill, the Chief Minister said that there are about 30 families who have been given licenses under the Home Stay Policy and they are taking complete advantage of it.
The Chief Minister directed the officers to strengthen the three side road network starting from Hansi, Jind and Barwala till Rakhigarhi. Besides this, the road having a cumulative length of 5.5 kilometers from Gaibi Nagar (Kinnar) to Rakhigarhi should be widened and strengthened and additional land should be purchased soon through the e-bhoomi portal for this purpose.
Sign boards highlighting the historic importance of Rakhigarhi should be installed on National Highway and State Highway. Besides this, the historical importance of Rakhigarhi should also be displayed on the premises of Haryana Tourism Corporation and other tourist places so that the people of the state and the country can get information about Rakhigarhi and tourism in Rakhigarhi should be promoted in the coming days. Khattar said that all the artefacts found from the excavation of Rakhigarhi are the valuable property of India, hence ensuring their security along with preserving it is of utmost importance.
A list of artefacts and other old items found from the excavation in Rakhigarhi should be prepared. Besides this, if the villagers also have such artefacts, then a list of them should also be prepared. He said that arrangements should be made to keep these artefacts in the museum after talking to the villagers and villagers can also be informed that the name of those who will give these artefacts will be displayed in the museum.
The Chief Minister directed the officials of the Archaeological Survey of India to give permission for the beautification of the ponds present inside the protected area of Rakhigarhi and prepare designs and hand over them to the Pond Authority.
The Chief Minister was apprised that a coordination committee has been formed by the Government of India for the work of the Rakhigarhi site and a task force has been constituted by the State Government. In the meeting, a detailed presentation of all the mounds of Rakhigarhi was given by the Archaeological Survey of India. In addition, a walk-through documentary of the museum was also shown.
Vidhan Sabha Deputy Speaker Ranbir Gangwa, MP, Brijendra Singh, Rajya Sabha MP, Lt.Gen.(Retd.) Dr. D. P. Vats, MLA, Vinod Bhayana, Jogi Ram Sihag, Sh. Ram Kumar Gautam, Principal OSD to Chief Minister Sh. Neeraj Daftuar, Additional Chief Secretary, Public Works (Building and Roads) Department, Ankur Gupta, Additional Chief Secretary, Development and Panchayats Department, Anil Malik, Additional Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Dr. Amit Agrawal, Principal Secretary, Tourism Department, MD Sinha, Commissioner, Faridabad Division, Faridabad. Vikas Yadav, Director General, Development and Panchayats Department, Sanjay Joon, Director General, Archeology and Museums Department, P C Meena, Commissioner, Hisar Division, Hisar, Geeta Bharti, Deputy Commissioner, Hisar, Uttam Singh and other officers of the district administration also remained present.
