Safeguarding Maharashtra's Heritage: District Committees to Address Fort Encroachments
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Synopsis
Maharashtra's Cultural Affairs Minister Ashish Shelar announced the creation of district-level committees to combat encroachments on historic forts, ensuring their preservation and protection.
Key Takeaways
- Formation of district-level committees to address fort encroachments.
- Committees will include key officials from various departments.
- Encroachments to be removed from February to May.
- Committees to hold monthly reviews for transparency.
- Maharashtra has 47 centrally and 62 state-protected forts.
Mumbai, Jan 18 (NationPress) In a significant initiative to safeguard Maharashtra’s cultural and archaeological treasures, Minister of Cultural Affairs Ashish Shelar announced the establishment of district-level committees aimed at addressing encroachments affecting the state’s historic forts.
These committees will concentrate on eliminating existing encroachments and preventing future incidents, thereby ensuring the preservation of these iconic landmarks.
Chaired by the district collector, the committees will consist of essential officials including the Commissioner of Police, Zilla Parishad Chief Executive Officer, District Superintendent of Police, Municipal Commissioner, and additional relevant authorities, featuring representatives from the Archaeology Department, Forest Department, and the Maharashtra Maritime Board.
By January 31, the committees must compile a comprehensive fort-wise inventory of encroachments and present it to the government. From February 1 to May 31, the removal of encroachments will be executed in a timely fashion, with regular progress updates directed to the government.
Post-removal of encroachments, the committees will enact strategies to avert future encroachments and guarantee the long-term safeguarding of the forts.
To ensure accountability and transparency, the committees are required to conduct monthly review meetings and report their progress to the state government.
Maharashtra hosts 47 centrally protected forts, managed by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), and 62 state-protected forts, overseen by the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums. These forts are essential to the state’s cultural heritage, necessitating dedicated efforts to maintain their historical significance, structural soundness, and public safety.
Minister Shelar expressed deep concern regarding reports of encroachments on both protected and unprotected forts, emphasizing the risks to their preservation.
“There are notable challenges concerning structural integrity, historical importance, and law enforcement at these sites. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, district-level committees will strive to resolve these issues and safeguard these historic assets,” Shelar stated.
