Bhubaneswar, July 19: Odisha will provide 9.685 acres of government land in Khordha Mouza of Khordha district to the Union Ministry of Culture for the construction of Paika Memorial.
The Paika memorial will be constructed in memory of the Paika rebellion of 1817 at the foothills of Barunei foothill, the battle ground of Paika Bidroh.
The decision was taken at the state Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
After the cabinet meeting,Odisha Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Pramila Mallik told that the land would be allotted to the central government free of premium, capital value and
incidental charges.
The cabinet also decided to waive Rs 31. 97 crore government dues for the purpose.
Mallik said much before the 1857 Sepoy mutiny, the Paikas have waged an organised war against the British Government in 1817 which is known as the Paik rebellion which is considered as the first war of independence in the whole county .
The war was fought under the leadership of the then Rodanga Landlord Baxi Jagabandhu Bidyadhar Ray Mohapatra. Many warriors of Odisha participated in the war and the warriors are called Paikas.
The Union government has taken a decision to construct a memorial at the place since it is a symbol of heritage and fighting spirit of Odia’s.
It also in later stages provided inspiration to the war of independence.
The memorial would help in promoting the tourism industry of the state and would also help historians and researchers, the Minister said.
With UNI Inputs….
