Tourists destroy the fortifications at Panhala Fort

Panhala (Kolhapur) – Tourists have thrown stones from the fortification near Pusati Bastion (buruj) on the Panhala fort into the valley. It is not easy to push large rocks from the fortification down into the valley, yet tourists have done it. The incident has happened despite the presence of two Police posts near Pusati Bastion.

When the locals noticed the broken fortification of the Panhala fort, they informed the Divisional Officer of the Archaeological Department, Vijay Chavan. Chavan said that they were unaware of this incident. They started bringing up the fallen stones and repairing them. He also appealed that ‘tourists who destroy Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s forts should not visit the Panhala fort’. He expressed the opinion that the fort is in good condition because of the attention of the locals. (It is not enough to express such an opinion. He must tell what the Archaeological Department will do about this issue – Editor). Locals have expressed that the Archaeological Department and the Police administration have shown inexcusable negligence towards this issue.

Editorial Perspective

Unfortunately, tourists are committing such wrong actions at the Panhala Fort. The Archaeological Department and the Police administration must take strict measures to protect the fort.