Anantapur: Gandikota, sometimes called the Grand Canyon of the South, will soon get a facelift, but not by any government agency. Rather, the Dalmia Bharat Group has entered into an understanding with the Union ministry of tourism and culture and the Archaeological Survey of India on April 9 as part of Central government's ‘Adopt Heritage’ scheme.
Dalmia Bharat group officials say that they adopted the Gandikota Fort since it is located close to their cement factory in Kadapa district and makes it logistically easier for them to monitor development and maintenance work at the monument overlooking a stunning gorge carved by the Pennar river in the state. The contract with the government will be for a period of five years.
“The Gandikota Fort’s location is quite remote. It’s a living monument. We don’t want to evict any of the many households residing there; rather, we want to involve them in its maintenance,” said Sundeep Kumar, executive director of Dalmia Bharat group.
He said that the company would give priority to cleaning up the area as people are using it as open toilets.
The Group has also signed an agreement to maintain the Red Fort. Both the contracts (for the Red Fort and the Gandikota Fort) are for five years, with the clause that they can be extended on mutually agreeable terms by the government and the corporate house.
Many of the proposed interventions like landscaping, provision for drinking water facilities, toilets, installing benches and general illumination of the fort are similar, said sources.
Further, the indemnity clause for the Gandikota Fort is similar to that of the Red Fort. The government would hold the Dalmia Bharat group “harmless against any loss, costs and expenses” in case such claims are made by the Archaeological Survey of India.
Like the Red Fort, the Group will not charge any collection fee or convenience fee from the general public.
Semi-commercial activities would be charged at “reasonable rates” and any revenues generated from such activities would have to be deposited in a separate bank account. The proceeds would be used only on maintenance activities of the monument.
