This time, it is the heritage conservationists and officials from the ASI, who are slugging it out over the restoration work of the heritage structures in Vasai-Virar region.
Raise an alarm over the alleged use of concrete in restoring prime structures
MUMBAI: The 17th century fort at Vasai is once again a battleground. This time, it is the heritage conservationists and officials from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), who are slugging it out over the restoration work of the heritage structures in Vasai-Virar region. Conservationists and public representatives have raised an alarm over the alleged use of concrete in restoring prime structures like ramparts of Bassein Fort in Vasai and a Stupa at Nallasopara. The two structures are among the 10 prime monuments earmarked as most treasured possession by ASI in that region.
Heritage expert Tasneem Mehta, who recently attended the meeting of Heritage Conservation Society of Mumbai Metro Region, was upset with the ASI approach. “It is very disturbing that such prime monuments are not treated with honour.” She said she will write to the director general of ASI, New Delhi, revealing the use of cement by the workers in the ongoing restoration work at Vasai.
GS Narasimhan, superintending archaeologist with ASI’s Mumbai Circle, however, refused all claims of mixing cement in the mortar, and said the use of lime mixture was being closely monitored by the team. Another ASI official refuted the claim and said, the workers were using a blend of lime stone, brick powder, and materials that matched the old-wall mixture.
Meanwhile, Collective Research Initiatives Trust, the agency appointed for documentation and conservation guidelines for heritage buildings and precincts in Vasai-Virar sub-region, presented its survey reports to the society governed by Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority’s (MMRDA’s) top rank.
MMRDA chief planner Uma Adsumilli, said the meet reviewed the heritage listing being done for Vasai and gave a clean chit to ASI officials involved in the controversy. Shraddha Gavankar, president of Vasai-Virar municipality, also ruled out any use of cement in the work and pointed out that the experts in their recent visit had certified the job.
t_ chittaranjan@dnaindia.net
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