PUNE/MUMBAI: State Tourism Minister Jaykumar Rawal has clarified that only neglected Class II category forts would be leased out to private players. The clarification came after Opposition parties criticised the government over the decision to lease out 25 forts in the State to private players.
The move is part of the new Fort Policy being devised by the State Government.He alleged that the Opposition leaders were trying to enrage people unnecessarily.
He questioned why no government had formed a Fort Policy earlier. He denied that the forts will be leased out as ‘wedding destinations’.
“The forts directly related to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj that are of great historical importance and those that are already under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the Cultural Department of the State would not be touched,” Rawal told mediapersons in Pune.
“Class II category forts are those that lie neglected in villages. Some are under the Revenue Department, some with Tourism Department and some still with descendants of original owners,” said Rawal.
Adding that most of the forts are in grave need of repair and maintenance, he said, “There have been proposals by organisations, individuals and industrial groups, who expressed interest in carrying out maintenance and development of these forts. Some want to develop heritage hotels, while others wish to turn the forts into museums or build a ropeway or organise a light and sound show. Presently, we only have the primary policy. Once we form the final policy in a few months, we will start receiving proposals.”
He said Maharashtra is one of the last states with so many forts to devise a Fort Policy. “Several states like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Goa, Rajasthan already have a Fort Policy. Does the Opposition have any answer to why they never formed a Fort Policy when they were in power? They only want to play with sentiments of people. In the last five years, the BJP government spent over Rs 80 crore in repair and maintenance work of forts,” Rawal added.
Earlier, criticising the decision, NCP MP Amol Kolhe said, “The government is defending its decision saying this is common in Rajasthan as the forts there are being used for tourism as hotels or resorts. These people are not able to understand the difference between residential forts and war forts. The forts in Maharashtra are war forts. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj saved them from the Mughals. The forts in Rajasthan are residential forts. The war forts have historical value,” said Kolhe.
Instead of developing forts for weddings or hotels or resorts, the government must develop historical museums on their premises, he said. “Stories related to the forts could be depicted through sculptures in a museum. They could conserve the biodiversity of the fort so that people can study the flora and fauna. The local people, especially youth, could get employment,” Kolhe suggested. NCP leader Dhananjay Munde said the government is insulting the Maratha warriors. “If the government is not able to conserve these forts, we are ready to conserve them. We would not tolerate playing with our sentiments,” he warned.
“The Modi government leased out Red Fort at Delhi. Now his follower Devendra Fadnavis is doing the same. The government is donating these historical monuments to some particular organisations and persons,” he said.
Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant alleged that the government is selling the pride of the State. “If the government has courage, they should make such a decision about Shaniwarwada,” he suggested.
Speaking to the media in Pune, Chief Minister Fadnavis said the decision has nothing to do with forts, which have a long history. “We are checking feasibility to use forts which don’t have history and are in a dilapidated state. But it doesn’t mean we are going to give such forts for weddings. Some people are deliberately spreading wrong information about the decision.”
THE DECISION
- The State Government decided to lease out 25 forts to private players and consortia. The forts fall in Class II category with lesser historical significance. They will be developed by leasing out properties of the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) for 30 and 60 years.
- A new tourism policy cleared by the State Cabinet on Wednesday allows privatisation of MTDC resorts, open land and other protected monuments not under control of the ASI.
- As per the policy, there are 350 properties under the MTDC, which could be given on a revenue-sharing formula or one-time premium to private players. The model has been followed in Rajasthan and Goa.
- The policy will allow private players to develop forts and surroundings and set up facilities like tenting and sound and light show.
- In the first phase, the government has leased out some forts that include Kandhar, Nagardhan, Nandur, Korigad, Laling, Salher, Parola, and Ghodbunder. All of these are under State control.
