Government forms committee to reduce load on Sonar Fort

JAISELMER: To reduce weight on Sonar Fort, state government has started efforts under which it has formed a four-member committee to look out possibilities and other points to shift population from the fort. The world famous fort is deteriorating day-by-day and government was concerned over it.
The team, headed by Jodhpur DLB deputy director Hari Singh Rathore, has reached Jaisalmer on Tuesday and will submit its report to the government in a month.On other the hand, residents of fort have started protesting against the government’s move stating their unwillingness to vacate the place.
Increasing population and water leakage in its foundation are making the fort less resistance and the structure is gradually becoming dilapidated. Despite laying new sewerage line, loopholes and water leakage are still persistent. Looking to earthquake and other natural calamities, government has started working on the plan to reduce load on the fort and shift families.
Jaisalmer municipality has planned to shift residents by cutting plots. Presently, over 300 families reside in the fort along with over 50 hotels/paying guest, 15 restaurants and more than70 small and big shops function inside it. The increasing commercial activities in the fort are posing danger to the fort. The pristine look of the fort is continuously being hampered with new construction which adds to the load.
Looking to the situation, chief minister Vasundhara Raje has expressed concern over the condition of the fort and directed to make a report over possibilities of getting the fort vacated and thus, constituted a committee.
Confirming this, Jaisalmer municipality commissioner Jhabbar Singh said, DLB deputy director Hari Singh Rathore is leading a four-member independent committee including RO Vikram Singh, AEN Sampat Jat and Jen as members. The committee has to submit its report in a month. Research and ground work have already been initiated by the team.
He said, load on fort is continuously increasing and situation of the fort is getting worse day-by-day. The committee will make its report and municipality will also give its suggestions.
Sonar Fort councillar Arvind Vyas said fort will not be vacated at any cost. Feelings of local residents are inextricably attached to the fort. This is the heritage of their forefathers and fort is completely safe because of them. There are some faults in sewerage line and if they are fixed, there won’t be any issue on their presence.
He said UIT chairmen Dr. Jitendra Singh has also asked residents to vacate the fort and they will be provided plots in new colony against it. But residents completely denied it.
Meanwhile, local people are not at all ready to leave their ancestral home. One colony is ready for allotment to fort residents, but they are still not convinced after lot of efforts to vacating their homes.
Arvind said if government makes some guidelines and rules towards solving problems of resident, the fort will become totally safe.
A resident, Chandrashekhar, said they will not vacate their homes inside fort at any cost. Our feelings are attached to the fort. This is the heritage of our ancestors and fort is completely safe because of us. Residents in the fort are repairing and maintaining houses due to which it is safe. It will become shabby post vacation.
Senior resident Rajendra Vyas Bhopat said fort is also providing employment to hundreds of people. Government should focus on improving sewerage system, rather asking us to leave.