While the Red Fort’s adoption by the Dalmia Bharat group has courted controversy, the state government’s adopt a heritage scheme has drawn a dud with just two of 371 protected monuments being preserved through private participation in over a decade.
“So far, just two of the 371 state protected monuments in Maharashtra have been adopted,” a state Culture department official said. This includes Naldurg fort in Osmanabad district, which has been adopted by a Solapur-based construction group; and the birthplace of former deputy prime minister Yashwantrao Chavan, where the YB Chavan Prathisthan is involved.
The state’s Directorate of Archaeology and Museums suffers from a funds crunch which affects its ability to conserve, maintain and protect historical monuments. Under 2007’s Maharashtra Vaibhav State Protected Monuments Adoption scheme, the state government planned to involve corporate entities, trusts and individuals.
Private entities were supposed to handle conservation and provide amenities such as cleanliness, security, toilets and parking. In return, they would get ticketing rights (with rates approved by the state Directorate of Archaeology and Museums) and the authority to use the monument as an icon in their advertisements.
In 2014, the tenure for the adoption was increased to 10 years from the previous five years in hope of a better response. “One reason the scheme did not meet with an adequate response is that corporates found inadequate incentives in return for their adoption. Moreover, a large number of state protected monuments are temples (153) and forts (49), where ticketing and entry levies are not possible,” another official said. The official added lack of adequate publicity for the scheme and strict rules could also have led to the lacklustre response.
The state government is now considering amendments to the scheme including sourcing CSR funds and involving NGOs for cleanliness, tourist management and watch-and-ward duties.
UP FOR ADOPTION
Forts at Bandra, Dharavi, Mahim, Shivadi and Worli; August Kranti Maidan, Banganga, Gateway, St George fort, the Dean’s bungalow at JJ School of Arts. Khandeshwari caves in Thane
