Sometimes, the development takes a toll on history. Two structures which have historical significance are apparently impacted by the developmental works in the city. An ancient high level water reservoir is faded into oblivion with the construction of a retaining wall atop Indrakeeladri.
The plaque, with the inscription ‘High Level Reservoir opened by Mahatma Gandhiji on 11th of April 1929’ used to be located in the vicinity of Arundal Satram (choultry) along the ghat road on Indrakeeladri facing river Krishna. The reservoir was demolished as part of retaining wall works.
The reservoir used to supply drinking water to residents of Arjuna Veedhi in the vicinity. The VMC urged Sri Durga Malleswara Swamyvarla Devasthanam authorities to install bronze statue of Mahatma Gandhi in the vicinity and preserve the plaque in 2008. But, it has not seen the light of day till date. Leave alone the statue, the whereabouts of the plaque is also not known.
Now, the works to demolish Ashoka Pillar began on Thursday as part of Kanaka Durga flyover project. The history and importance of this pillar is not known to many, including the authorities.
It is popular as Ashoka pillar because of the Lion Capital of Ashoka on top of it. The 60-foot pillar on which the Lion Capital of Ashoka was installed was actually the chimney of the old Public Works Department (PWD) workshop that existed there in the 1950s. The workshop was shifted to Seethanagaram just before or during the construction of Prakasam Barrage (then it was just called Krishna Barrage and was named after Tanguturi Prakasam, the first Chief Minister of a separate Andhra and the person who laid the foundation stone for the barrage much later). The chimney of the old PWD workshop was converted into Ashoka Pillar after the shifting of the workshopThe pillar stands as a sentinel at what was the sole entry point to the Bezawada town is a part of Andhra Pradesh heritage and should not be demolished to make way for Kanaka Durga flyover, feel experts and old-timers.
