Heavy machines rip open parts of a 400-year-old fort, protected by the State Archaeology Department, and replace damaged bricks with modern blocks.
The department’s restoration of the Sira fort, known as Kasturi Rangappa Nayaka Fort, has come under fire from local conservation activists who claim the “unscientific” approach is destroying the rich history and heritage of the fort.
“Stone ramparts which had developed cracks are being ripped apart using heavy machines… Some of the replaced bricks are new,” said Ameen Ahmed, founder of Tumakuru District Heritage Forum.
Brick and masonry work, dating back 225 years when Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan had hold over the fort, has now been destroyed, he said. “Even the openings for muskets and cannons have been closed…The damage is irreversible,” said Mr. Ahmed.
The history of the fort intertwines itself with that of the town, which has over the past five centuries seen the rule of Vijayanagara, Adil Shahi, Mughal and Maratha rulers, Hyder Ali, Tipu Sultan and the Wadiyas. The fort was built in the early 17th century by Nayakas, the local fiefdom.
Technical Coordinator for INTACH Pankaj Modi said international norms as well as ASI conservation manuals do not allow for heavy machines to be used in forts. “There will be further damaged to the bricks of the fort. Authenticity and integrity of the structure will be lost… This is like what a construction contractor would normally do,” he said.
Archaeology Conservation Engineer of the State Archaeology Department Rachappa told The Hindu that lack of availability of “authentic” bricks had forced restoration using modern bricks.
“The brick layer which has been removed has a thickness of one-and-a-half inch. This is difficult to obtain in the market now. We are using bricks available in the market, but we will use older bricks as the outer lining of the fort,” he said, and added that cannon and gun openings of the fort as well as the badly damaged parapets would be restored to original condition.
