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Atsu seeks preservation of Ahom-era monuments in Sivasagar, revival of Pohugarh & Jamuna Lake
Atsu seeks preservation of Ahom-era monuments in Sivasagar, revival of Pohugarh & Jamuna Lake

Time of India

timea day ago

  • General
  • Time of India

Atsu seeks preservation of Ahom-era monuments in Sivasagar, revival of Pohugarh & Jamuna Lake

Dibrugarh: All Tai Ahom Students' Union (Atsu) on Monday sought urgent govt intervention for the preservation of Ahom-era monuments, resolution of waterlogging issues, and the revival of Asia's first natural zoo, Pohugarh. The student body also raised concerns over encroachment at Jamuna Lake, a centuries-old water body built during the Ahom dynasty at a press conference at the historic Rang Ghar in Sivasagar. Atsu Sivasagar district executive president, Madhujya Chetia, outlined key demands. "The Ahom monuments in Sivasagar are symbols of our heritage and pride. However, neglect and poor maintenance threaten their existence," Chetia said. The student body highlighted the need for scientific conservation of Ahom-era structures, including the Rang Ghar, Talatal Ghar, and Kareng Ghar. Chetia said these monuments witness heavy footfall daily, raising concerns about structural safety. "The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) must conduct a scientific assessment of the people-carrying capacity of these monuments. We need to know how many visitors these structures can safely accommodate at a time," he added. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 20 Highest Paying Degrees For 2025 Best Paying Degrees | Search Ads Learn More Undo Another pressing issue highlighted was the persistent waterlogging problem at Rang Ghar after heavy rainfall. The iconic amphitheatre, often called Asia's oldest surviving pavilion, suffers from poor drainage, leading to waterlogging. "Every monsoon, water accumulates on the Rang Ghar campus. It faces structural threats from accumulated water that seeps into its foundation. The govt must take immediate steps to improve drainage and prevent further deterioration," the Atsu leader said. He demanded the revival of Pohugarh, believed to be Asia's first natural zoo, established during the reign of Ahom King Swargadeo Rudra Singha. Once a thriving wildlife sanctuary, Pohugarh now lies in neglect. "Pohugarh is a testament to the Ahom dynasty's vision for wildlife conservation. The govt must restore it to its former glory and promote it as a heritage tourism site," Chetia said. The union raised alarm over illegal encroachments around Jamuna Lake, a serene water body built during the Ahom rule. The lake, once a vital water source, is now shrinking due to unauthorised constructions. "Jamuna Lake is part of our history, but encroachers are destroying it. The administration must clear all illegal occupations and protect this heritage site," Chetia added. Atsu has given the authorities a one-week deadline to respond to their demands and initiate concrete preservation measures.

Record-breaking rainfall inundates Sivasagar town
Record-breaking rainfall inundates Sivasagar town

Time of India

time23-06-2025

  • Climate
  • Time of India

Record-breaking rainfall inundates Sivasagar town

1 2 3 4 5 6 Dibrugarh: A heavy spell of overnight rainfall brought life to a standstill in Sivasagar town on Monday, submerging all 14 municipal wards under knee-deep water and breaking the record of highest rainfall in a single day. According to district officials, the town recorded a staggering 146.5 mm of rainfall in 24 hours — the highest single-day precipitation ever recorded in Sivasagar, surpassing the previous record of 142.5 mm set on Apr 13, 2021. The deluge transformed streets into rivers, forcing residents to wade through knee-deep water as they navigated their submerged neighbourhoods. The relentless downpour triggered severe waterlogging, with residents claiming they had not seen such flooding in decades. Key areas like Melachakar, Phukan Nagar, Muktinath Chariali, BG Road, Amolapatty, HCB Road, ONGC Colony, Babupatty, Boarding Road, GNG Path, Dolmukh Chariali, Ganapatty, and Na Ali were among the worst affected. Even the parks and walkways surrounding the historic Rang Ghar, a symbol of Assam's Ahom-era heritage, was waterlogged. Shops, schools, homes, and major roads remained inundated, disrupting life. Local businessman Bhaskar Gogoi from Phukan Nagar said, "Sivasagar town has not witnessed such waterlogging in the last several years. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Scam Exposed: What They Won't Tell You about zero trust! Expertinspector Click Here Undo I have lived here for 30 years, but I've never seen water rise so quickly. Within hours, our ground floors were flooded, and people were struggling to move around." Sivasagar DC Ayush Garg said multiple agencies have been mobilised to address the crisis. "The District Disaster Management Authority, water resources department, Public Works Department, municipal board, civil defence, and district administration are working together to drain the accumulated water from the town. We have deployed pumps in critical zones and are cleaning clogged drains to restore normalcy as soon as possible," Garg added. The administration also focused on the Rang Ghar precinct, where water accumulation threatened the heritage site. Municipal workers were seen clearing debris from drains to facilitate faster water drainage. "This is an unprecedented situation, and our teams are working round the clock to clear the waterlogged areas. This kind of rainfall in such a short duration can overwhelm any drainage system. Our priority is to ensure the safety of residents while clearing the waterlogged areas as quickly as possible," chairperson of Sivasagar Municipal Board, Mrinali Konwar said. Residents expressed frustration with the recurring waterlogging issues, calling for long-term solutions. "Every monsoon we face the same problem, but this time it's unprecedented. The authorities need to upgrade the drainage infrastructure instead of temporarily fixing it," said Pranjal Lahon, a school teacher said.

Ahom-Era guerilla warfare training site in Charaideo encroached
Ahom-Era guerilla warfare training site in Charaideo encroached

Time of India

time08-06-2025

  • Politics
  • Time of India

Ahom-Era guerilla warfare training site in Charaideo encroached

1 2 3 4 5 6 Dibrugarh: A historically significant Ahom-era guerrilla warfare training site at Bhojo in the Sonari area of Charaideo district is facing rampant encroachment, raising concerns among archaeologists and local activists. The site, spread over 129 bighas, was once a strategic training ground for Ahom warriors and is dotted with unique earthen mounds and trenches. Despite being declared a protected archaeological site in 2006, lack of fencing and official oversight has led to large-scale encroachment, with portions of the land now being used for vegetable farming. The Ahom kingdom, established by Chaolung Sukapha in 1228, ruled Assam for nearly six centuries until 1826. The Bhojo site served as a crucial training centre for guerrilla warfare tactics, helping the Ahoms resist Mughal invasions. The site features countless man-made earthen mounds, each standing 1.10 to 1.20 metres high and spaced 90-100 cm apart, and trenches used for military drills. Discovered in 2006, the site is among 157 protected monuments under the Directorate of Archaeology, Assam. However, despite its protected status, the site has fallen prey to systematic encroachment over recent months. Locals have illegally occupied vast portions of the historical site, transforming the ancient training grounds into vegetable gardens surrounded by bamboo fencing. Most alarmingly, several of the centuries-old earthen mounds have been deliberately cut down and flattened to create level ground suitable for crop cultivation, permanently destroying irreplaceable archaeological evidence. The gravity of the situation prompted the Tai Ahom Yuba Praishad (TAYPA) to conduct an urgent site inspection on Sunday. Led by president Diganta Tamuly, the delegation expressed serious concerns about the ongoing destruction of the invaluable heritage site. "This is not just simple land encroachment — it's the erasure of history. The Ahoms defended Assam against foreign invasions using these very tactics. To see such a site being destroyed by encroachers is unacceptable. If the govt doesn't act now, this historic site will be lost forever," Tamuly said. He blamed the Directorate of Archaeology for negligence, saying despite the site's protected status, no boundary wall or fencing was erected to prevent encroachment. "For 19 years, this site has been unprotected. Encroachers have taken full advantage. We demand the immediate arrest of those responsible and urgent measures to secure the area. It is disheartening to witness such blatant disregard for our history and heritage," Tamuly added. TAYPA has urged Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma to intervene and ensure the site's preservation.

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