Heritage board to carry out research at 12 sites

Nitish Sharma

Tribune News Service

Kurukshetra, November 21

The Haryana Saraswati Heritage Development Board will carry out research at 12 archaeological sites situated along the Saraswati channel from Adi Badri in Yamunanagar to Hisar, besides finding new sites in Fatehabad, Hisar, and Sirsa.

Sites where Study will be conducted

Research will be carried out at sites situated along the Saraswati channel from Adi Badri in Yamunanagar to Hisar. The study will be carried out at Adi Badri, Chaneti Stupa, Bhagwanpur, Thana, Sangam Tirtha Arunai, Balu, Kunal, Bhirrana, Banawali, Rakhigarhi, Siswal and Karanpura sites

Focus on developing saraswati channel

Besides finding more information about the already identified sites, the objective will be to identify the new sites and develop all important sites along the Saraswati channel. — Dhuman Singh, Deputy Chairman, Haryana Saraswati Heritage Development Board

The study will be carried out at Adi Badri, Chaneti Stupa, Bhagwanpur, Thana, Sangam Tirtha Arunai, Balu, Kunal, Bhirrana, Banawali, Rakhigarhi, Siswal and Karanpura sites in Haryana.

The board has constituted a team of experts comprising Arvind Kaushik, Superintending Engineer, Irrigation Department; AR Chaudhri, director, Centre of Excellence for Research on the Sarasvati River, Kurukshetra University; Dr Deepa, research officer of the Sarasvati Board; and officials from the Archaeological Department and Vidya Bharti Sanskriti Sikshan Sansthan.

Dr AR Chaudhri said: “The sites were identified during the research studies over the years and now the board has decided to handle each site specifically and carry out extensive study. During the study, it was found that the Saraswati paleo channel existed in close proximity to these sites, at a radial distance of less than 500 metres. Now the sites will be again evaluated to know further about the paleo history and cultural associated with the Saraswati River. There are several more sites in the state that need to be studied.”

Dhuman Singh, deputy chairman of the board, said: “Besides finding more information about the already identified sites, the objective of the exercise will be to identify the new sites and preserve and develop all important sites along the Saraswati channel in the state. All sites will be specifically handled by a team of experts for fresh findings. There are a number of important sites along the channel that have extinct over the period of time. The board will identify and develop the lost sites.”

“A couple of days ago, six ancient coins were recovered from Sandhaya village located near the Saraswati river. The coins have been handed over to the board by a resident of the village. The board will request the Archaeological Survey of India to check the coins and further study the site. A team of experts will visit the site on Wednesday,” he added.