Clean drive at Fort St George

Chennai: Weekends are invariably quiet within the historic Fort St George here, with people and vehicular movement minimal, allowing one to hear the rustle of the leaves which flail about like solitary sentries. This Saturday, however, the area pulsated with activity for a different reason.

A motley group of about 50 persons, including students from K.R.M. Public School, Perambur, Cycling Yogis and officials of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), armed with gloves and brooms, hoes and bags, cleared the thick vegetation that had been threatening the north and northeastern rampart walls early in the morning, thanks to the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Clean India campaign).

By about 9 am, they had cleared the shrubs, cleared the area of broken bottles, plastic carry bags and thorns. “The cleaning operation will continue and we will explore the possibilities of allowing visitors or tourists to go up to the ramparts after studying safety aspects,” said Mr K. Lourdusamy, superintending archaeologist, Chennai circle, who, along with Ms K. Moortheeswari, deputy superintending archaeologist, Fort Museum, initiated the cleaning drive coinciding with Heritage Week (November 19-25) celebrations.

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“The revolving cannon was mounted on the northeastern corner of the fort. That was history,” Ms Moortheeswari added, pointing to the path leading to the beach where the Chennai Port Trust was located. The clean-up drive made vast portions of the rampart wall visible.

“We started at 6.30 am as the blazing sun would sap energy and deter the children from working. Besides students and teachers of K.R.M. Public School, our members are also involved in the drive,” according to Mr Ramanujar Moulana who founded the Cycling Yogis, a non-profit organisation that promotes heritage through cycling. “The ASI officials have been very supportive,” he added.

Ms Neeti Anil Kumar, assistant archaeologist, Mr Saravanan, conservation assistant, and Mr Siva Shakthi Balan, principal, K.R.M Public School, were among those who toiled to restore the glory of the 17th century fort.

According to sources, till the 19th century, the shoreline was very close to the eastern wall and goods were pushed on the short stretch of sand before the Sea Gate in the centre of the fortification on this side.