Guwahati, Sept 19: The Assam government has sought additional land and cooperation from the West Bengal government to expand and develop the historic Madhupur Satra in Cooch Behar, associated with the final days of revered polymath Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardev. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, on Saturday, said that representatives of the West Bengal government have expressed their willingness to support the development of Madhupur Satra.

“We have asked West Bengal for land. If we do not get additional land, we will develop the Satra within the existing land.

The memories of Srimanta Sankardev are associated with this place, and we want to develop it as a culturally and spiritually significant tourist destination and beautify the area,” Sarma said. The Assam government will also explore the possibility of purchasing land in the surrounding areas to facilitate a larger development project.

“We will try to see if we can purchase land nearby so that we can develop Madhupur Satra on a larger scale,” Sarma said. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma at Madhupur Satra in Cooch Behar (Photo: @CMOfficeAssam / X) Sarma also referred to the presence of North Bengal Development Minister Nisith Pramanik at the programme and said he had conveyed the West Bengal government’s support for the project.

“North Bengal Development Minister Nisith Pramanik is here, and he has said that the West Bengal government will support the development of Madhupur Satra. The West Bengal government will provide Rs 30 crore,” Sarma said.

He also invited a delegation of the West Bengal government to visit Batadrava Than in Assam to see the development work carried out at the birthplace of Srimanta Sankardev. “I have invited a delegation of the West Bengal government to visit Batadrava Than and see how we have developed the birthplace of Srimanta Sankardev,” he said.

“Srimanta Sankardev’s last place was Madhupur Satra. The West Bengal and Assam governments are working together here.

Just as we developed Batadrava Than, we will also develop Madhupur Satra in memory of Srimanta Sankardev,” Sarma said. The Assam government will also provide Rs 1 lakh every month for the maintenance of the Satra, Sarma announced.