Special Correspondent
In a bid to preserve Maharashtra’s rich cultural heritage, the state government has announced the formation of a district-level committee, led by the district collector, to address and prevent encroachments on historic forts. State Minister for Cultural Affairs, Advocate Ashish Shelar, revealed the committee’s creation on Saturday, underscoring the importance of safeguarding these invaluable sites.
Maharashtra is home to 47 forts under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), 62 state-protected forts, and approximately 300 unprotected forts, many of which are at risk of encroachment. The newly formed committee’s main responsibility will be to identify encroachments, remove them, and prevent any new encroachments from occurring. It will also work to maintain law and order around these sites and preserve the architectural integrity of the forts.
The committee will include key stakeholders, such as the police commissioner, district superintendent of police, the chief executive officer of the zilla parishad, municipal corporation commissioners, and officials from the forest department, ASI, and the Maharashtra State Archaeology Directorate.
The committee’s work will follow a clear schedule. By January 31, it will review the situation and compile a list of encroached forts. From February 1 to May 31, a phased approach will be adopted to remove encroachments, with regular progress reports submitted to the government. Once the encroachments are cleared, the committee will ensure that no new encroachments take place.
The committee will hold monthly meetings and provide regular updates to the government, ensuring that the preservation of Maharashtra’s forts remains a top priority.
