NEW DELHI: Chittorgarh Fort, one of the last bastions of Rajput resistance against Mughal emperor Akbar constructed nearly 500 years ago, is now fighting a battle for survival as much against the withering effect of time as also the booming blasts at limestone mines in its vicinity.
Unlike Rana Pratap Singh who bravely waged a lonely battle against the mighty Mughal army, Chittorgarh Fort is fortunately backed by the mighty Supreme Court, which on Friday ordered no blasting in limestone mines within a 5km radius of the Unesco heritage monument, which brings to a history student’s mind the stories weaved around its grit, valour and devotion that is etched in the Fort’s structures including the Vijay Stambh, Kirti Stambh, Padmini Palace, Kumbha Palace and Meera Mandir.
A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and S V N Bhatti ordered: “We declare and hold that notwithstanding any liberal recommendation on undertaking blasting operations nearer to the Chittorgarh Fort, keeping in perspective the continuous exposure of ancient monuments to peak particle velocity (PPV) arising from blasting, a radius of 5km from the compound wall of the fort shall not be subjected to mining by blasting or use of explosives for mining of any minerals. In other words, the manual/mechanical mining operations permitted within a radius of 5km are allowed to be continued, subject to the lessees possessing a valid lease in accordance with law.”
It said exploitation of limestone mineral in the surrounding area by the mining lease holders, particularly in an unscientific manner or disproportionate exploitation of minerals in hard and rude mining activities, is seen as a threat to the existential utility of the Chittorgarh Fort and the structures.
The bench ordered chairman of Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mining), Dhanbad to constitute a team of multi-disciplinary experts in civil engineering, earthquake engineering, structural geology and mining engineering, within two weeks “to undertake a study of environmental pollution and impact on all structures in the Chittorgarh Fort from the blasting operations beyond a 5km radius”.
SC also suggested a comprehensive preservation plan for Chittorgarh Fort taking into account the haphazard measures taken by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to protect the heritage monument, that witnessed monkey menace, unwanted growth of vegetation in the walls of the structures inside the Fort and the increased footfall of tourists.
Unlike Rana Pratap Singh who bravely waged a lonely battle against the mighty Mughal army, Chittorgarh Fort is fortunately backed by the mighty Supreme Court, which on Friday ordered no blasting in limestone mines within a 5km radius of the Unesco heritage monument, which brings to a history student’s mind the stories weaved around its grit, valour and devotion that is etched in the Fort’s structures including the Vijay Stambh, Kirti Stambh, Padmini Palace, Kumbha Palace and Meera Mandir.
A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and S V N Bhatti ordered: “We declare and hold that notwithstanding any liberal recommendation on undertaking blasting operations nearer to the Chittorgarh Fort, keeping in perspective the continuous exposure of ancient monuments to peak particle velocity (PPV) arising from blasting, a radius of 5km from the compound wall of the fort shall not be subjected to mining by blasting or use of explosives for mining of any minerals. In other words, the manual/mechanical mining operations permitted within a radius of 5km are allowed to be continued, subject to the lessees possessing a valid lease in accordance with law.”
It said exploitation of limestone mineral in the surrounding area by the mining lease holders, particularly in an unscientific manner or disproportionate exploitation of minerals in hard and rude mining activities, is seen as a threat to the existential utility of the Chittorgarh Fort and the structures.
The bench ordered chairman of Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mining), Dhanbad to constitute a team of multi-disciplinary experts in civil engineering, earthquake engineering, structural geology and mining engineering, within two weeks “to undertake a study of environmental pollution and impact on all structures in the Chittorgarh Fort from the blasting operations beyond a 5km radius”.
SC also suggested a comprehensive preservation plan for Chittorgarh Fort taking into account the haphazard measures taken by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to protect the heritage monument, that witnessed monkey menace, unwanted growth of vegetation in the walls of the structures inside the Fort and the increased footfall of tourists.
