Achi news desk-
Guwahati: Amid growing concerns over the proposed Kamakhya Corridor project, the Assam government has announced that the design and working drawings of the project will undergo a rigorous review by IIT Guwahati. This includes mandatory hydrological and geological studies to ensure that the sacred geography and underground springs of Givat Kamhia remain undisturbed. This decision follows two legal petitions submitted to the Gahti High Court, expressing concern that the construction could adversely affect the revered springs in the area.
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The Kamakhya Corridor project aims to improve the infrastructure around the Kamakhya Temple, one of the most significant Shakti Pithas in India. However, local residents, followers and researchers fear that the development could disrupt the underground springs that are an integral part of the temple’s sanctity.
The Government of Assam, in a recent affidavit, emphasized, "Based on the final site plan, work on detailed design and working drawing continues. The same will be sent to IIT Guwahati for structural testing. No construction shall commence until proper approval is obtained from IIT Guwahati and other relevant agencies." The purpose of this promise is to address the central concern that the project could disturb the holy springs, which many followers believe is the essence of the temple’s divinity.
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The springs within the Kamakhya temple complex, especially the one in the innermost sanctum sanctorum or Garbhagarya, are not only sources of water but are worshiped by the Kamakhya goddess herself. This unique form of worship, centered on a natural geographical feature, underscores the concerns of the petitioners.
In one of the petitions, the petitioner Navajyoti Sarma emphasized that various academic works have stated that the worship at the Kamakhya temple revolves around the water in the garbhagriya of the temple. "The worship of multiple female deities seems to have started much earlier than the actual construction of the temple. In many holy places, a particular geographical feature, such as a mountain, rock, cave, pool, river or pond, is considered an essential object of worship rather than the temple structure itself," he mentioned. This perspective suggests that the temple marks the sacredness of the local geography rather than enhancing it.
In the Kamakhya temple, the garbhagriha is a cave below ground level, where a stone descends into a yoni-like depression that is constantly filled with water from an underground spring. This feature is the main object of worship, symbolizing the goddess Kamakhya. The concern is that any construction could affect this essential aspect of the sanctity of the temple.
Nabajyoti Sarma, speaking to GPlus, emphasized, "The very basis of devotion to Kakhya is related to the eternal subterranean spring manifested in the main and various temples. Any construction that interferes with this could affect the fundamental nature of the Kamakhya cult."
he elaborated, "When every Hasidic visits Kamakhya, his devotion is expressed by touching the water from the spring. This water is the main basis for their dedication. The proposed Kamakhya Corridor, with its multi-level construction plans, could disrupt the interconnected holy springs."
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The Kamhia Corridor project includes extensive construction, which includes soil cutting, soil sealing and maintenance works. Sarma raised concerns that such activities could alter the underground water flow, affecting the springs that connect different temples within the complex.
Earlier, local residents also expressed their concerns. Many fear losing their homes and businesses due to the construction. A shop owner in the Kamakhya temple, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "We are not sure what the government plans to do with our stores. It is disheartening to see my shop, which has been in my family for generations, be dismantled due to the construction of the Kamhiya Corridor. Even though the government will allocate new places for our shops, what are we going to do until then?"
A longtime resident of Naughton Lane added, "If our house is broken because of this Kamakhya corridor, we will definitely protest. Our house has been here for 70-80 years."
Despite these concerns, the Assam government submitted a report to the court in April 2024, in which it was claimed that the construction of the corridor would not damage the Nilhal hills or the temple buildings.
The debate on the Kamhia Corridor highlights the delicate balance between the development and preservation of the cultural and religious heritage. For many, the springs in Kamakhya are not only natural features but the embodiment of the divine, an integral part of their faith and traditions.
