Section of Dutch armoury comes crumbling down

ASI swings into action to save the protected monument

A portion of the Dutch Fort that collapsed due to recent rains in the Bandarkota area in Machilipatnam in Krishna district.

: A portion of the Dutch armoury, one of the sites under protection of the Archaeological Survey of India in the town, collapsed last week.

According to ASI’s representatives guarding the armoury in the Bandarkota area, the right side portion of the construction collapsed on June 26 during the rains.

Locally, the armoury is known as the Dutch Fort. Data culled out by the ASI show that the armoury was used by the Dutch for administration of marine trade operations on the Coromandel coast. “The armoury consists of a quadrangular enclosure with rooms and godowns built around it. The enclosure is divided into two open courts by a narrow block of buildings at the centre,” stated an ASI publication “The Dutch remains at Machilipatnam.’

“We will take up a detailed study on the existing structural status of the historical building. The collapsed portion will soon be renovated in order to conserve the construction that speaks volumes about the flourishing marine trade operations in Machilipatnam during the period of the Dutch and the British,” ASI Superintendent Archaeologist Kannababu told

The Hindu .

Days of glory

In 1606, a Dutch mission went to the Golkonda court and secured

firmans from Mohammed Quli Qutb Shah fixing export and import duties at 4 per cent and the business started flourishing. However, in 1689, the Dutch took forcible possession of Masulipatam from the Golkonda rulers but with the British entering the scene, Dutch influence on trade started gradually diminishing by the 18th century.

During the British period, the armoury was renovated as designed by Sir Charles Travelyan, who strongly recommended levelling of the walls and layout boulevards. But this idea was frustrated by the cyclone that hit the Masulipatnam coast in 1864.