PC-I to resume Rawat Fort conservation soon

Maintenance and development work of the fort cost a total of Rs60m

ISLAMABAD: The Department of Archaeology and Museums (DoAM) plans to submit a revised project concept-I (PC-I) for completing conservation work on the majestic and historical Rawat Fort within two weeks. The  National History and Literary Heritage Division will then forward it to the Planning Division for a final nod.

Rawat Fort is originally an ancient Serai (inn) situated about 18 kilometres from Rawalpindi while heading towards Jehlum, close to the Grand Trunk (GT) Road and appears to have been built during the Mughal Sultanate period in the early 15th century A.D.

The conservation work on the fort will be initiated by the archaeology department soon after an Rs28 million PC-I for repair, maintenance and development is approved, an official of DoAM told the media.

So far, the official said, the department has restored damaged cells and the mausoleum according to the standard height after water tightening and plinth protection. Now, landscaping work on the fort is being carried out, the official added.

The project to repair, maintenance and development of Rawat Fort was supposed to have been completed by June 2020, but now with the project facing revisions, its proposed cost is expected to balloon to around Rs60 million while the time required to complete the work is expected to undergo revisions as well.

The conservation and maintenance of Rawat Fort were started mainly to preserve its damaged boundary walls, 19 ram-shackled cells, three-domed altered mosque, crumbling graves and a deserted mausoleum.

The biggest hindrance in the conservation work was of the encroachments from three sides of the fort, which is a sheer violation of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) law that prohibits construction within 200 feet of the historical monument's premises.

The issue has not been resolved yet despite writing to the authorities in CDA for several times to remove encroachments at the fort site, the official revealed.

However, the conservation of the fort will at least help protect this ancient site from further ruining as well as stop the drug addicts and beggar residing in its cells through the repair of boundary walls, the official said.

Rawat Fort had 45 cells (rooms), of which only 19 dilapidated cells exist today while others have fallen prey to either vandalism of private constructors who have merged large sections of the fort into their houses or to the elements of weather.

These rooms once used by travellers of ages past for overnight stays.

The DoAM official said that the fort is protected under the Antiquities Act 1975, but after devolution under 18th amendment of the Constitution, the Punjab government acquired it. The DoAM again acquired the site and started initial working on a plan for its maintenance and preservation. DoAM purchased the road linking the historical site with Grand Trunk Road but shopkeepers and roadside hawkers encroached that.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 2^nd, 2019.