The revenue department is continuing its neglect of the British-era jail in Shukrawar Peth, using it for storing documents and broken chairs and tables, despite the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) putting it on the heritage list.
The jail is part of the premises of the Mamledar Kacheri. It is historically important as the revolutionary, Umaji Naik, was hanged on the premises by the British government in 1823.
The building was neglected for years and put on the heritage list only last year. The Mamledar Kacheri is used by the revenue department. The structures on the premises house the offices of tehsildars, city survey offices and a police station.
The jail has plates bearing cell number on the doors. There are cells on three sides and a big open space in the middle. A heap of broken chairs and tables has been lying there for many years.
“I had come here two years ago when it was in the same state. This was okay when it was not on the heritage list. But since the PMC has recognised it as a heritage structure, why don’t they clear the waste and open it to visitors,’’ said Shripad Rege, who is studying history in Mumbai and came down to visit the memorial of Umaji Naik that is on the same premises.
Sham Dhavale, head of PMC’s heritage cell, said, “We included it on the updated heritage list last year, but do not have any clear idea if it is with the revenue department or the Umaji Naik Hutatma Smarak Samiti. However, it is under the revenue department and not under the PMC. It is being used by them. The building is in a good condition and we are hoping they will maintain it."
However, the heritage site is not even open to visitors. As of now, the jail continues to serve as a store room.
