Author: Jahnavi Contractor
Publication: The Times of India
Date: April 3, 2001
The Indian Archaeological Society
(IAS), a Delhi-based organisation, has approached the state ministry for
youth culture and sports with proposals to restore around eight state protected
monuments that were damaged in the recent earthquake. They have estimated
a cost of about Rs 15 crore for the restoration of these structures, some
of which have been badly damaged.
D I Krishnani, one of the archaeologists
who is on the national list of conservators of the IAS, said that amongst
these eight monuments are the Navlakha temple in Ghumli (Jamnagar), four
monuments in Kandhkot Bhuj, Bhujia Kothar in Jamnagar, Shiv temple at Kera
and the Khambhalena caves at Rajkot.
The IAS has estimated that around
Rs 15 crore might be required for the restoration work on these monuments,
he said. According to Krishnani the focus so far had been on restoration
of the monuments that were protected by the central Archaeological Survey
of India (ASI), however, these other monuments too need to be taken care
of. He said that the ministry of culture has shown an active interest in
restoration of these monuments, however nothing has been finalised yet.
Krishnani, who retired as conservationist
from the Archaeological Survey of India, was in Vadodara recently when
the PWD invited him to help in the repair work of the 107-year-old Nyay
Mandir that was damaged in the earthquake.
He has also played an important
role in the excavation of the Rani ni Vav at Patan and in conservation
and restoration of several important monuments in Gujarat when he was with
the ASI.
Speaking about the Nyay Mandir he
says the building is one of its kind and needs to be conserved and protected.
"The Nyay Mandir has not been announced as a protected monument, but due
to its unique architecture it is a heritage structure that needs conservation.
"One of the unique aspects of this
magnificent structure is that the brick tiles that have been used to decorate
its outer walls are peculiar. They are not seen in any other buildings
in this area and it is evident that they were imported when it was constructed
107 years ago," he said.
According to Krishnani the main
problem with the Nyay Mandir is that it has been used extensively over
the years, but no maintenance or conservation efforts have been made. "There
are several water seepage and other problems in the Nyay Mandir which should
be brought to the notice of the authorities so that it can be corrected.
For example, the overhead water tank of Nyay Mandir is loaded with higher
capacity than what is required.
"The extra load is weakening the
foundations of the building. The tanks are positioned on girders, which
are attached to the walls, due to the weight these girders have bent and
have weakened the walls," he said.
According to him a chemical cleaning
process needs to be done so that the building can be conserved.
