DNA SPECIAL: Ghodbunder Fort & home to Savarkar made eternal

Two remnants of history — Ghodbunder Fort near Mumbai, once a centre of Portugese power, and the birthplace of freedom fighter Vinayak Damodar (Veer) Savarkar — may soon be saved from the deluge of time.

Taking its scheme for adoption of heritage monuments forward, Maharashtra government has cleared proposals to allow conservation and management of these two sites. 

While Ghodbunder Fort, alongside the Ulhas River, would be adopted by Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC), Savarkar's birthplace at Bhagur in Nashik would be maintained by the Swatantryaveer Savarkar Rashtriya Smarak, said a senior official from the state department of culture. 

While the civic body, which will conserve Ghodbunder Fort, may introduce ticketing at a later stage, no such charges will be levied at Bhagur. The government, according to the official, is also working on giving out two more iconic sites in Mumbai for adoption under this scheme.

Under the 'Maharashtra Vaibhav — State Protected Monuments Adoption Scheme' announced in 2007, the state government planned to involve corporate entities, trusts and individuals in the conservation, operation and maintenance of these state-protected monuments.

These private entities were supposed to handle the conservation of these sites and provide amenities like cleanliness, security, toilets and parking. In return, they would get ticketing rights (with rates being approved by the state directorate of archaeology and museums) and the authority to use the monument as an icon in their advertisements.

However, just two of the 370 protected monuments have been given out under the scheme so far. These are the Naldurg Fort in Osmanabad, which has been adopted by a Solapur-based construction group in 2014-15, and the birthplace of former deputy prime minister Yashwantrao Chavan in 2014, where the Y.B Chavan Prathisthan is involved.

In 2014, the time frame for the adoption was increased to 10 years from the previous five, for a better response.

Officials said one reason for the scheme not getting adequate response included corporates finding little 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.

The state government's directorate of archaeology and museums suffers from a fund crunch, which affects its ability to conserve, maintain and protect these monuments. This scheme would have ensured heritage conservation.

The state government is however considering amendments to the adoption scheme including sourcing CSR funds and involving NGOs for cleanliness, tourist management and watch-and-ward duties.

The Maharashtra Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1960, allows the state government to preserve ancient and historical monuments, records and archaeological sites and remains.

MAHA-PROTECTED MONUMENTS

• Mumbai: Forts at Bandra, Dharavi, Mahim, Shivadi and Worli, August Kranti Maidan, Banganga, Gateway of India, St. George Fort, Dean Bungalow
• Thane: Khandeshwari caves, Ghodbunder Temple
• Aurangabad: Ghatotkach, Gogeshwaridevi and Rudheshwar caves, pre-historic Neolithic-era site
• Ratnagiri: Lokmanya Tilak's birthplace, Thibaw palace, tombs of King Thibaw and Queen Supayagale of Burma