The district authorities have started preparations to ban hotels and restaurants functioning in the Sonar Fort, one of the living forts in the world. Plans are also being made to make the fort a horn-free zone.
In a recent meeting held in Jaipur on conservation, under the chairmanship of additional chief secretary, art and culture, Aditi Mehta, the Jaisalmer district administration and municipal council have been directed to shift hotels and restaurants outside as they are the main reason for seepage of drain water into the foundation of the historic structure.
Additional district collector Parshuram Dhanka, who was present in the meeting, said that it has been decided to serve notices to hotels for closing down their activities.
He said directions have been given to take action on demolishing encroachments inside and outside the Sonar Fort. Irregular constructions that have spoiled the beauty of the fort will also be removed, he added. The action plan also included shifting the vegetable market.
The SDM said the authorities will keep a close watch to ensure no new construction of any kind takes place in the fort. Electricity transformers will also be removed.
There is an attempt to make the Sonar Fort a silent and polythene-free zone.
Permission will be required for any construction within 200 metres of the fort, said Dhanka, adding, ASI in this month will be organising a camp for which advertisements will be issued.
ICMOS in association with Unesco has included six forts including Sonar Fort in its list. The fort’s place in the final list of world heritage monument of Unesco will be decided by June end in Cambodia.
src: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Hotels-to-be-removed-from-Sonar-fort/articleshow/20469238.cms