UMERKOT: A team of the Endowment Fund Trust for Preservation of the Heritage of Sindh has completed conservation work at the Naukot fort, three kilometers from Naukot town in Tharparkar district.

The fort built by Mir Karam Ali Khan Talpur in 1814 had suffered serious damage during the 2011 heavy rains and other calamities.

Mohan Ochani, the project director, told Dawn on Wednesday that the Rs5 million conservation work was carried out under the supervision of experienced archaeologists and conservationists of the EFT and the Sindh culture department.

He said the EFT started preservation work on Aug 4, 2012, and since then five feet thick inner brick masonry skin of fortification that had collapsed at three places during the 2011 heavy monsoon rains had been fully restored using traditional materials and techniques.

He said the fortification top that had developed two- to five-foot-deep ditches due to erosion of mud core by rainwater infiltration, its repair and restoration with slop moulded bricks in gypsum and mud mortar as per original had been completed. Besides, he said, the two gates that had been blocked with brick masonry during the colonial period had also been restored to their original form.

He said the phase-II of the project envisaged restoration of the missing character of the fort such as merlons and elephant proof gates of the fortification. They had restored the merlons and if they were given more funds they would restore elephant proof gates too, he said.

Mr Ochani suggested reuse of barracks, dungeon and setting up of ‘Thar Museum’ in the built-in cells and said visitor facilities such as snack bar, lounge and souvenir shops and celebration of traditional festivals and events which would enrich local economy were also needed at the fort.

Until July 2011, much of the fort which is a protected monument under the charge of the Sindh culture department remained intact but the heavy rains caused it severe and widespread destruction.

Published in Dawn, January 29th, 2015

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