The five-member committee conducting an inquiry into the collapse of Pucca Qila's main gate along with its structure has pointed out a lack of coordination between the authorities and the contractors executing the heritage preservation work. The four-page inquiry report held the contractor, Waliullah Bhutto, and his son, Saddam Bhutto, responsible and suggested action against them under the Antiquities Act 1975.
The Sindh culture, tourism, antiquities and archives department had awarded a contract for the conservation of the fort's fortification wall, Mir Haram and the main entrance gate to Bhutto's firm. The Planning, Development, Monitoring and Implementation Cell of the department had deputed resident engineer Nadeem Manzoor Shah to coordinate with the company.
'Undesired' work
The inquiry committee was chaired by Sindh Museum Director Sher Muhammad Mahar and had Naseem Akhtar Jalbani, Sindhu Chandio, Sarfaraz Jatoi and Muhammad Tanweer as members.
"… due to deplorable and incomprehensive methods of labours assistant director Sindhu Chandio telephonically informed the higher authorities regarding unsatisfactory working strategy at main gate of the fort but no response was received."
During her visit to the gate, Assistant Conservation Officer Naseem Akhtar Jalbani directed an engineer of the contractor's company, Najam, to ensure underpinning to strengthen the foundation of the structure. But, Najam did not satisfy Jalbani with his response and on September 1 she briefed the director general about 'undesired' work being conducted at the fort.
"Consequently, since the interconnected wall [fortification] of the main gate was being demolished, cracks appeared on the gate, it lost its strength and collapsed," the report reads. "All the state of affairs reflect that the contractor wasn't carrying out the work as per the work order but [he was] doing such works on his own without seeking proper consultation from any superior officer, professional or archaeologist," the findings conclude.
Engineer's proposal
Meanwhile, in a letter dated January 7, 2021, Shah wrote to the department's director general that due to the dangerous condition of the main gate, necessary repair and preservation work has to be carried out. In the same letter he also suggested demolition of the gate.
"The main gate has tilted 3 to 4 degrees outside and currently it is in bad and dangerous condition for the public," he stated. "For repairing, renovation and preservation of the mentioned particular point, we have to demolish the main entrance gate with a defence wall and reconstruct it with the same type of material, shape and theme."
But Shah reportedly did not get a response. DG was also approached by the Director PDM&IC to erect a parapet wall near the office block and Mir Haram to keep the construction material safe inside. However, no response was received from the DG and the boundary wall could not be erected.
Encroachments
During the works, the cell confronted several issues pertaining to encroachment for which Pucca Qila Assistant Director Sindhu Chandio contacted City taluka Assistant Commissioner Mutahir Ameen Wattoo. She requested him to deploy policemen to remove all hurdles which were being faced by the labourers as the work started in the month of August.
Recommendations
The committee proposed that the contract awarded to Waliullah Bhutto and his son Saddam Bhutto should immediately be cancelled. "… there is no term for demolishing protected heritage existed in the Antiquities Act, 1975." Action against the contractors has also been suggested.
Other contractors engaged in the preservation will have to seek guidance from archaeologists in collaboration with the department. The contractors will have to share the conservation plan with the relevant officers of the department. Only skilled labour with previous experience of working at the heritage sites should be hired in future.
The contractors will have to consult with the officials and archaeologists, including those working privately, about the expected scenarios as the preservation work progresses and take precautions accordingly. The committee recommended that the technical experts should supervise the conservation and submit periodical reports over the progress.
"It has also been observed that drainage of all the residents of Pucca Qila passes through the foundation of the main gate and the fortification wall which is a constant threat."
The committee asked the government to relevant the concerned department for preparing an alternate drainage system. The members also called for removing commercial encroachments along the fortification wall.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 6th, 2021.
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