IndianOil Foundation dedicated to preserving heritage monuments, enriching quality of life, and preserving ecology & environment
New Delhi 12-Jun-2015
IOF Meeting at Shastri Bhavan being chaired
by Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, MoS (i/c), MoP&NG.
With the objective of protecting, preserving and promoting the glorious history and heritage of the nation, IndianOil has created a non-profit trust, ‘The IndianOil Foundation (IOF)’, in collaboration with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the National Culture Fund (NCF) of the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. Exclusively funded by IndianOil with an initial corpus of Rs. 25 crore and an annual contribution of Rs. 10 crore, IOF is committed to adopting at least one heritage site in every State and Union Territory.
The Foundation has identified sites like Qutub Minar in Delhi, Konark in Odisha, Kanheri Caves in Maharashtra, Hampi in Karnataka and Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh for developing tourist facilities under the ASI-NCF-IOF project.
The 14th Trust meeting of ‘IndianOil Foundation’ was held on June 10, 2015. Mr. Dharmendra Pradhan, Hon'ble Minister of State (I/C), Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, chaired the meeting as the Trustee Chairman of IOF. It was attended by Additional Secretary, MoP&NG, ADG (ASI), CEO (NCF), Chairman (IndianOil) and Director (HR), IndianOil, the Trustee Secretary of IOF.
During the meeting, various projects of IOF were reviewed and impetus was given by the Minister for early completion of the ongoing projects. It was advised that developmental facilities for tourists should expeditiously be provided at Konark, Khajuraho, the Bhoganandisvara temple at Nandi hills (Karnataka), Kanheri caves and Vaishali-Kolhua in Bihar. The facilities would include an interpretation centre, audio-visual galleries, parking facilities, cafeteria, rain-shelters, toilet blocks, drinking water, sit outs, landscaping, signage, etc.
Two new sites, ‘Rani ki Vav’ in Gujarat and ‘Swatantrya Jyot’ in Andaman & Nicobar, were adopted during the meeting. Both the places are enriched with history & culture and attract many tourists from India and abroad. It was suggested that facilities like galleries, toilet blocks, drinking water, sit outs, signage, etc., should be developed at these sites to promote tourism and preserve the heritage of India. The facilities at both the sites would be provided at an approximate expenditure of Rs. 6.5 crore. It has been suggested that another ‘Swatantrya Jyot’ may be created at Andaman & Nicobar in honour of freedom-fighter Veer Savarkar who was imprisoned in the Cellular Jail. This project is estimated to cost Rs. 1.2 crore.
