Bhubaneswar: In a major step towards the conservation of Odisha’s rich heritage and architectural legacy, the Odisha State Archaeology Department signed non-financial Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with IIT Kharagpur and School of Planning and Architecture (SPA), Bhopal at Sanskruti Bhawan in Bhubaneswar.
Dr. Bijay Ketan Upadhyaya, Secretary of the Odia Language, Literature and Culture took the initiative for the collaboration, which aims to strengthen the conservation, documentation and development of Odisha’s historic monuments, temples, heritage structures and archaeological sites through the integration of modern science and technology.
Under the partnership with IIT Kharagpur, advanced technologies such as LiDAR, 3D documentation, structural analysis, digital mapping, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), remote sensing and scientific conservation methodologies will be utilised for heritage preservation and monitoring. The collaboration will also focus on research, innovation and interdisciplinary knowledge integration in the field of heritage conservation.
Similarly, the MoU with SPA Bhopal will support heritage planning and conservation architecture, museum and exhibition design, architectural documentation, technical advisory support and capacity-building programmes.
Speaking on the occasion, Odisha Culture Minister Shri Suryabanshi Suraj said the initiative would play a transformative role in protecting and developing the state’s heritage assets.
He stated that around 82 monuments under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and nearly 212 monuments under the Odisha State Archaeology Department would benefit from the initiative. He described the collaboration as a landmark step towards preserving Odisha’s glorious cultural and architectural heritage for future generations.
“Our heritage and architecture have given Odisha a unique recognition at the national and international levels. It is our responsibility to preserve these historic sites and make future generations aware of their significance. Through this collaboration, modern technologies will be used for scientific conservation, digital documentation and sustainable development of heritage sites,” the Minister said.
Shri Suraj further emphasised that special importance would be given to the safety, protection and long-term conservation of temples, monuments and historic structures across the state.
In another significant announcement, it was informed that under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, ten students from Odisha will get internship opportunities at IIT Kharagpur in the field of heritage and architectural conservation. During the program, the official logo of the Odisha State Archaeology Department was also unveiled.
Dr. Bijay Ketan Upadhyaya, Secretary of the Odia Language, Literature and Culture Department; Shri Deba Prasad Dash, Special Secretary; Dr. Devjani Bhuyan, Deputy Director; Dr. Chandra Sekhar Hota, Secretary of Odisha Sahitya Akademi; Prof. Gaurav Das Mahapatra from IIT Kharagpur; Prof. Kailash Rao, Director of SPA Bhopal; Prof. Chandi Prasad Nanda, Vice-Chancellor of Utkal University; and Prof. Prasanna Kumar Swain, Vice-Chancellor of Culture University, among others, were present on the occasion.
The collaboration reflects the Odisha Government’s growing focus on combining technology, research and academic expertise for the preservation and promotion of the state’s cultural heritage.