After reports of missing figurines finding their way back on the Chabutara, AMC on Thursday shifted the structure to Sanskar Kendra at Paldi, a much safer location so that the statuettes do not get stolen again.
Finally some good news regarding the 300-year-old Chabutara under Ellisbridge in Ahmedabad! After reports of missing figurines finding their way back on the Chabutara, AMC on Thursday shifted the structure to Sanskar Kendra at Paldi, a much safer location so that the statuettes do not get stolen again.
However, the relocation to Sanskar Kendra will only be a temporary one. Speaking to DNA, Capt Dilip Mahajan, deputy municipal commissioner said that once the proposed heritage park is constructed, the heritage structure will be brought to the park and will be on exhibit for visitors.
"Till that time, the Chabutara will be kept at Sanskar Kendra for security reasons," added Mahajan. Heritage department officials carried out the documentation process of the Chabutara using photographs. AMC officials on Thursday moved the structure from its original location under Ellisbridge and assembled it at Sanskar Kendra.
It should be recalled that some figurines from the Chabutara went missing, only to mysteriously reappear later. After DNA reported this theft, AMC officials inspected the neglected structure and considered to include it in the new list of heritage monuments.
All’s well that ends well
On May 18, DNA first reported about the missing figurines from the 300-year-old Chabutara, located near the Ramwadi area under the Ellisbridge and alerted the authorities about the theft. But it seems the reports also cautioned the thieves too.
They it seems gave up the idea of selling it and decided to install the figurines back on to the Chabutara.
Two weeks after the theft was reported, five of the seven stolen figurines were found reinstalled at the Chabutara itself!
AMC's heritage committee chairperson Bijal Patel, who too swung into action after the mysterious recovery, was also concerned about its security. "There is a high possibility that it can be stolen once again, so I will personally meet the higher authorities to provide a safe and secure place for the chabutara," said Patel.
Since the theft and subsequent recovery put the local residents in the dock for allegedly supporting the thieves, the issue of security remained on top of AMC's priorities list. Till a final decision on shifting was taken on July 18, the file had reached the AMC commissioner's table.
However, with the recent change at AMC's helm, things were kept on hold. The new commissioner, Guruprasad Mohapatra took swift action on the matter and on July 21 the heritage structure was moved to a safer home.
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