Deputy CM to throw open the historical monument to public on June 11, sanctions funds for the first phase of Rs 13-crore project
Deputy CM to throw open the historical monument to public on June 11, sanctions funds for the first phase of Rs 13-crore project
Crumbling walls of Pratapgarh Fort, built by Chhatrapati Shivaji in 1656, has got a fresh lease of life, thanks to the initiative of local residents who pooled in money to carry out the much-needed renovation of the historical monument. On June 11, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar will throw open the fort to the public as partial renovation of its main domes is over. MiD DAY had carried a story ('Pratapgarh fort to get Rs 13 cr facelift', February 4) saying the government had agreed to allocate Rs 13-crore in phases for renovation of the picturesque fort, spanning over four years. The first installment of Rs 1.31 crore was to be released shortly. 
Preserving the past: Pratapgarh Fort gets its ethnic look (above)
after renovation. (Below) The historical monument was in shambles for
decades until local residents embarked on the idea to pool in money for
saving the legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji three years ago. 
The government has agreed to fund the project in four phases and already released funds for the first phase. It will release Rs 4.37 crore in 2011-12, Rs 3.56 crore in 2012-13 and Rs 3.76 crore in 2013-14. The project is expected to be complete by 2014. Kaustubh Butala, president of Pratapgarh Jirnodhar Samiti, a trust formed by locals to save the fort, said, "The state government made necessary provisions for the restoration work in the budget and released Rs 5.68 crore (which includes Rs 1.31 crore for the fort) for renovation works in the district as promised."
Satara district collector Sambhaji Kadu-Patil confirmed receiving the first installment for starting renovation work at the project. However, they are yet to start work. Senior Mantralaya officials confirmed that the Deputy CM will attend the event on June 11 and he will also make an announcement about the financial aid provided by the state government for restoration work. Butala further added, "We are grateful to the Deputy Chief Minister for keeping his promise and releasing the funds for the project in the stipulated time. We will ensure that the entire restoration work is completed on time. It's our duty to preserve historical monuments like this for generations to come."
According to the district administration, once the restoration work is completed more tourists will visit the fort. This will provide employment opportunities to the local people. At present, around 10 lakh tourists visit the fort in a year. Shivaji Maharaj had also constructed three tanks within the fort for harvesting rain water, but all of them are in shambles. At present, there are around 35 families, or around 150 people, legally staying inside the fort, but they have been facing perennial water crisis for years. Shivaji Maharaj had allowed their ancestors to stay on the fort premises. These tanks will be repaired under the state's ambitious renovation project, ending water woes of the inhabitants. Besides water tanks there are a dozen vigil towers, or burujs, in the fort, which is spread over 52 acres, said Butala. In the eastern side of the fort, there is a temple of Bhavani, the family deity of the Bhosales.
According to Butala, his ancestors came with Shivaji after the Maratha king raided Surat and settled around the fort, located 24 km west of Mahabaleshwar hill station in the district. "I apprised the Deputy Chief Minister of the fact that our organisation had been carrying out the restoration work of the fort for the past three years. I also told him that we had completed the work using lime mortar, the material which was used to build the fort in 1656," said Butala.
Fort facts
>> First fort in Maharashtra visited by Jawaharlal Nehru on November 30, 1957.
>> Then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru inaugurated the first statue of Shivaji at the fort after Independence.
>> Nehru was so keen on visiting Pratapgarh that a special road was constructed till foothills of Pratapgarhu00a0to facilitate his visit.
>> The fort boasts of Chhatrapati Shivaji's only statue made of ashtadhatu or eight alloys.
>> On May 1 1960, Yashwant Rao Chavan announced the creation of Maharashtra state at Pratapgarh fort.
>> The fort houses a temple of Bhavani, believed to be the main goddess of the Bhosales
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