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400-year-old Begur Fort craves for attention of authorities

Even though the fort is in a dilapidated state, it is yet to be listed as a protected monument by the Department of Archaeology.

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The fort is yet to be listed as a protected monument by the Department of Archaeology.
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The circular mud fort at Begur near Electronics City which has been around for more than 400 years is craving for attention. Even though the fort is in a dilapidated state, it is yet to be listed as a protected monument by the Department of Archaeology.

If the concerned authorities do not take measures to protect it, this mud fort may soon become a thing of the past.

Speaking with iamin, Ananth Dixit, priest of Shiva temple at the mud fort said that the government has not done anything to protect and preserve the fort. “The state government sanctioned Rs 16,000 for the maintenance of the temple last year. No money was sanctioned for the maintenance of the fort. Earlier, the temple at the mud fort had 15 acres of agricultural land. The tillers of the land became owners during the rule of Devaraj Urs, more than three decades ago. Now, it has become difficult to maintain the temple. Is it possible to maintain a temple (including honorarium for the priest) with Rs 16,000 per year?” Dixit asked.

Begur is one of the newly added areas to the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) in April 2007. M Sreenivas, corporator, Begur Ward (no. 192), talking with iamin said that he has been spending Rs 4,000 per month for watering nearly 800 saplings that were planted a few months ago. “The residents of Begur, especially youth, requested me to provide saplings and water to protect the mud walls of the fort. I want to develop it but there are no funds. Neither the state government nor BBMP is interested in spending money to preserve this historical place,” Sreenivas said.

A small board mentions the existence of the mud fort a few hundred meters away from its entrance.  A few builders have come forward to develop Panchalingeswara temple situated in the middle of Begur but no one has come forward to preserve the mud fort.

When contacted, HT Talwap, director, Department of Archaeology, said that assistant director N Manjula visited the mud fort and submitted a report on it. “It is not included in the protected monuments’ list. We can’t do anything on our own,” Talwap said.

Meanwhile, N Manjula, assistant director, Department of Archaeology, said that she visited the mud fort in February 2014. “The villagers did not allow me to bring the pillar to the museum of archaeology department at Venkatappa Gallery in Bangalore. They said that they will protect the inscriptions and maintain the mud fort. I have already submitted a report to the Commissioner, Department of Archaeology on that issue,” Manjula said.

For the longer version of the report, click here

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