BHUBANESWAR: As part of its plan to promote Bhubaneswar as a city of heritage and culture and to make people aware of this cultural heritage, the State Government has mooted several projects that will be implemented this year.

Sources in the department of culture stated that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has evinced special interest in the move and accordingly Culture Minister S.N.Patro, chief secretary A.K.Tripathy, culture secretary G.N.Mohanty and several senior officers of Bhubaneswar Development Authority and the departments of culture and tourism had a high level meeting at the state Secretariat recently.

Pioneering personalities

The meeting resolved to erect heritage gates on the four major entrances to the city, the sourced informed and added that the Chief Minister has already inspected the models of the proposed gates which were designed by architects of repute.

To remind the people about the contribution of pioneering personalities of the state in the field of culture, literature and social service, their statues will be mounted around the Indira Gandhi Park in the heart of the city facing the state Secretariat and legislative assembly, the meeting mooted.

A high level committee will finalise the list of the personalities that includes Bhim Bhoi, Radhanath Ray, Kalicharan Patnaik, Laxmikant Mohapatra and Chakara Bisoi among others.

Documentary films

The list will exclude personalities whose statues have already been set up elsewhere in the city, said the sources.

Well-known sculptors will be invited to design the statues, it was learnt.

The meeting further deliberated on making of documentary films on Orissa's culture and heritage by roping in eminent filmmakers, the sources said. Documentaries on the Buddhist and Jain heritage sites, Jagannath cult, Gotipua dance and Jayadev's Geet Govind include the proposed list, it said.

In association with the Archaeological Survey of India, INTACH and the department of tourism, heritage walks will be initiated in the old city area that houses several important temples and heritage sites.

Cultural evenings

Moreover, to provide nightlife to the visiting tourists to the city, the meeting deliberated on increasing the number of regular cultural evenings like the monthly sangeetayana, Sri Jagannathayana and srujani sandhya that are being organised by the department.

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