Betul fort to be restored, says Phal Dessai
Margao:
Minister for archives and archaeology, Subhash Phal Dessai, announced on Friday that govt will rebuild the historic Betul fort, vowing to 'fulfil the task of
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj
, which remained incomplete following his demise'.
The announcement came during a function held at Betul to commemorate the coronation of Chhatrapati Shivaji.
Phal Dessai said an architect and a consultant were already appointed for the fort restoration project. Addressing jurisdictional issues, he said, 'We cannot legally acquire the land, but we have worked out alternative means to bring the land under our charge and rebuild the fort.'
Currently, the fort falls under the jurisdiction of the customs department, which operates under central govt purview.
The access road to it lies within private property, further complicating restoration efforts.
Heritage lovers and local residents have persistently voiced concerns over the monument's deterioration, demanding immediate restoration action. While the fort structure itself remarkably withstood natural elements over the centuries, locals point out that the pathways and stairs leading to the fort collapsed due to prolonged neglect.
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