Undheri Fort sold to private developers ??

lonelyaztec

The 300-year-old Undheri Fort in Mumbai has passed into the hands of private developers.

The state property was illegally sold for a paltry Rs 2 crore.

Documents available with NDTV show that panchayat members of the Thal village in Konkan sold the fort to the Dolphin Saturn Crest Estate.

The sale even fetched the government Rs 12 lakh in stamp duty.

Illegal act

The fort had already been registered as a private property when the local media got wind of it and reported it to the district administration.

The procedure for the sale had started way back in 1972 when history was changed in the government records and the fort was converted into a non-agricultural land by those with vested interests.

"We have suspended the sub-registrar of the area. We will also investigate the role played by the panchayat. How can they sell off property that belongs to the state?," said Dadasaheb Zegde, District Administrator, Alibaug.

Heritage issue

Centuries back, the Marathas had fought tooth and nail to save Undheri from the enemies.

Chhatrapati Shivaji also took advantage of the fort's strategic location to keep a check on Mumbai and other southern ports.

But that's the past, and the local Kolis who signed the sale agreement now say the fort needs more than history to survive, just as they themselves do.

"We wanted someone to maintain the fort. That would have helped us get some jobs as well," said Sheshnath Koli, Head, Koli village.

Whatever be the rationale, the sale of the fort clearly spells bad news for the valuable piece of heritage, and it now remains to be seen what action the local administration will take in the matter.

Link here

__________________
Aztec

My photoblog