Heritage lovers concerned about British era remains

The proposed refinery at Pachapadra in Barmer district has left heritage lovers in the western Rajasthan concerned about the fate of buildings and monuments of the British period.

Barmer chapter of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking protection of the heritage buildings. In response, the Prime Minister Office (PMO) has ordered the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to survey the area. Anil Kumar, assistant superintendent, ASI Jodhpur division, will survey the proposed refinery site in Pachpadra on June 22 and prepare a report of the heritage buildings.

“We have surveyed the proposed refinery site and prepared a detailed report, which was forwarded to the Prime Minister to preserve the historic buildings. PMO has now ordered the ASI to conduct the survey,” said Yashovardhan Sharma, convener, INTACH, Barmer chapter.

According to the INTACH, the proposed site for refinery is basically a salt producing area, where there were about 600 salt mines during the British period. A rail line was laid in 1930 to transport salt to other parts of the country, but during the last few years the salt production has decreased due to several reasons.

During the British period, many government offices were opened to monitor the salt production, which still exist, but in dilapidated conditions. “The office of deputy superintendent of salt near Pachapadra is located in a shabby state. Many other buildings are located nearby. Among them, there is also the strong room of a treasury. There are also two police barracks near the treasury room,” Sharma said. He said the INTACH has also discovered the grave of an inspector of the salt department during the survey, which has the year 1919 marked on it. “There is also a Christian cemetery and tombs built between 1860 and 1880 and thereafter,” he added.

Rajendra Singh Man, co-convener, INTACH, Barmer chapter, said that tennis courts and heritage hospital building of the British era need protection. “There are British documents in a record room, which can prove to be useful for research,” he added.