August 24, 2006	Thursday	Rajab 28, 1427

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TAXILA, Aug 23: The Federal Department of Archaeology has committed violation of a Unesco charter in the restoration of Dharmarajika Stupa and Sirkap located in Taxila, it has been learnt.

Sources in the department’s sub-regional office here told this correspondent that under the Unesco charter on conservation and restoration of ancient sites, mortar as used originally must be utilised to renovate any site listed on world cultural heritage list.

The sources said the archaeology department utilised cement mortar instead of mud to restore the remains of Dharmarajika Stupa and Sirkap, generally called second city of the Taxila valley civilisation.

A sum of Rs2 million was allocated for the preservation and restoration of these two sites and the project was completed recently, they added. The federal government in recent past allocated a huge sum of Rs200 million for the conversation of 18 different archaeological sites in Taxila under the title of Taxila to Swat project.

A visit to these sites revealed that a major portion of the allocation was spent just to renovate the upper layer of archaeological sites with cement and sand mortar. Whereas, according to the Unesco charter, the preservation work should be executed through mud mortar which was utilised in construction of these structures centuries back.

A huge amount had been embezzled as masonry work was carried out only on top layers of the remains while the base was left unattended.

The sources said in the PC-I of the project approved by the department as well as the ministry of culture, there was no mention of mortar. A sum of Rs100 million was earmarked to utilise mortar of own choice by the contractor concerned.

“It is proof that the officials concerned allowed the contractors to utilise cement mortar instead of mud mortar which cost much less.”

When contacted, officials of the federal department of archaeology confirmed the utilisation of cement mortar instead of the original mud mortar.

They said due to geographical and soil conditions of the Taxila valley preservation of the ancient sites with mud mortar could not save them from the climatic and natural agents including rain and wild grass.