Patna, April 19: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today appealed to Prime minister Manmohan Singh to order excavation of important archaeological sites in the state as many have become vulnerable and required protection.
Stating that the state has innumerable heritage sites and a repository of priceless antiquities, he said in a letter faxed to the prime minister, “I request you for your personal intervention in the matter and would like you to direct the concerned agency for taking up excavation work in important archaeological sites of Bihar as early as possible.”
He said he had visited Rajgir (Nalanda), Bodh Gaya, Kurkihar, Vaishali and Chirand which had become vulnerable because of inadequate protection.
Giving the example of a site near the famous Visha Shanti Stupa in Rajgir, he said a few days ago miscreants attempted to dig it up hoping to get valuable artefacts.
–Agencies