The process of adoption of one of the oldest rock structures in the country, Bhimbetka which is also among the sites to be adopted by corporate groups under adopt a heritage scheme is likely to hit roadblock owing to legal hurdles. Recently, the union government had initiated a scheme wherein corporate groups will be invited to adopt heritage sites.
Bhimbetka, Bhojpur, Sanchi, Gwalior Fort and Khajuraho are among the sites which are to be adopted under the scheme after the Red Fort in Delhi. According to sources, representatives of a company recently met with the officials of the ASI to initiate the process.
However, they were guided towards the forest department for having the permission as the site is lying on its land. Divisional forest officer (DFO) Obedullahganj Arvind Pratap Singh Sengar said that we have no such clause under which we can allow anyone adopt the sites on our land. He says that the anyone who wishes to adopt the site on our land, will have to approach the court for sorting out legal issues.
ASI officer Vijay Sharma says that the site belongs to us but the land is not ours hence in a meet recently convened, we asked them to seek permission of the department.Pallav Sharma, an employee of the group which had come for the purpose says that they have been asked to prepare vision document for the process which they have to submit before the tourism department so that the whole process could initiate.
