Fresh contract for 2.6cr floated to restore Banganga Tank & precinct

Mumbai: After terminating the contract for restoration of Banganga Tank and its precinct, BMC has floated a fresh contract for a sum of Rs 2.6 crore for the restoration of the tank and its precincts. The heritage steps of the tank were damaged due to the use of an excavator by the contractor, while desilting was being carried out. The civic body recently floated a fresh tender worth Rs 1.2 crore for carrying out the desilting of the tank.BMC had, in July, terminated the contract of Savani Heritage Conservation, which was engaged for the restoration of Banganga Tank and its precinct area, following the damage that was caused to the heritage steps of the tank on June 24. The project management consultants as well as the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums department had rejected the use of an excavator. The contractor had also sub-let the work to another contractor without the approval of BMC. An FIR was filed earlier on Jun 25 against three persons, after the steps of the historic Banganga Tank in Walkeshwar were damaged, leading to an outrage among citizens and heritage activists. BMC then replaced and repaired damaged stairs of the tank."Savani Heritage Conservation carried out about 15 to 20 percent of the work on the Rs 4.5 crore contract earlier awarded. Whoever is awarded work in the current tender will carry out the remaining restoration work. The contractor needs to be empanelled with the state Directorate of Archaeology and Museums or the heritage cell of BMC and should have executed work on any heritage building. This time, we will be extra cautious with the work," said a civic official. In the next phase, work on street furniture, heritage light poles, bollards, entry gate, etc., would be taken up, the official added.Work such as desilting of the tank and other works should be completed as soon as possible. In the second phase of the project, work on the pathway, access for the specially abled, and restoration of the Ram Kund will be taken up. We want Banganga Tank and its precincts to be developed more as a pilgrimage site and not as a tourist place. We are drawing up plans for development of a ‘Banganga Teerth Shetra' Corridor, said Rutwik Aurangabadkar, CEO of Gaud Saraswat Brahmin Temple Trust. The Banganga Tank is owned by the Trust.
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