Kolhapur collector asks ASI to take steps to protect Panhala fort

KOLHAPUR: Collector Rahul Rekhawar has asked the archaeological department of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to remove the bushes and roots of plants from the historical bastions and fortifications of the Panhala fort and ensure cleaning of the fortifications and bastions immediately.
The work to prepare a report for the conservation of the bastion of the Panhala fort is underway. The Association of Architects and Engineers, Kolhapur, with the cooperation of Rekhawar, has taken up the initiative.
A committee of experts inspected the bastions and fortifications at the Panhala fort. Structural conservation expert engineer Chetan Raikar (Mumbai), geological consultant engineer Baba Jagtap (Pune), J D Patil, Shrikant Shinde, Dr Navghare, engineer Mahesh Hanmawale inspected the historic Rajdindi at Panhala fort, along with collapsed fort bastion wall near Teen Darwaja and Char Darwaja. The association has began to prepare a report of the observations made by the expert committee and the work to be done accordingly. This report will be submitted to the district administration and archaeology department.
The committee held a meeting with Rekhawar. The collector has asked the Panhala civic body to check if the sewage is draining effectively from the fort? Meanwhile, Panhala residents are satisfied with the immediate steps being taken for the conservation of Panhala fort.
"The archaeology department will soon independently inspect the crumbling ramparts and bastions with the help of a drone," said Vijay Chavan, survey assistant of the archaeology department.