ISLAMABAD: The authorities are reluctant to act against encroachments on Rawat Fort that are hindering restoration and conservation work being carried out by the Department of Archaeology and Museums.

Despite writing to the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration several times, a senior official from archaeology and museums told this agency, encroachments from all three sides of the fort are making it difficult for the team to carry out repair and conservation work.

According to the official the department has completed more than 30pc of its work at Rawat Fort, but encroachments – particularly on the southern side – are causing problems and damaging the already dilapidated fort further.

The encroachments are a violation of CDA by-laws, which prohibit construction with 200 feet of the premises of historical monuments.

However, the official said, the authorities in the CDA are not paying attention to the issue.

Restoration and conservation work was initiated at Rawat Fort side-by-side by a team hired by the department soon after the approval of a PC-I for the repair, maintenance and development of Rawat Fort at the cost of Rs28 million.

The department is carrying out repairs to preserve the fort, which has damaged boundary walls, 19 ramshackle rooms, a three-domed altered mosque, graves and a deserted mausoleum that has been in dilapidated condition for many years, the official said.

The official added that conservation would help protect the site from further ruin and stop drug users and beggars from living there by repairing the boundary walls.

CDA Director Encroachment Fahim Badshah when contacted said he was not aware of any encroachments issue at the fort, adding that the authority was busy taking action against encroachments in other parts of the capital.

He said he would look into the matter and seek approval from the authorities to take action against encroachments at the fort.

Rawat Fort was originally an ancient sarai, or inn, around 11 miles from Rawalpindi towards Jhelum. Close to the G.T. Road, it appears to have been built during the sultanate period in the early 15th century.

The fort had 45 rooms, of which 19 remain while the rest have fallen prey to vandalism by private builders who have merged parts of these rooms with their own homes. These rooms were once used by travellers.

According the description board outside the fort, it is associated with Masud, the son of Mehmood of Ghaznavi, who was arrested by rebelling soldiers and eventually murdered in the Giri fort near Taxila.

The fort is also associated with Ghakhar tribal chief Sarang Khan, who fell with his 16 sons fighting Sher Shah Suri and was buried within the precinct of the monument.

The Department of Archaeology and Museums Islamabad protected the side under the 1975 Antiquities Act, but it was acquired by the Punjab government after devolution under the 18th Amendment.

Archaeology and museums acquired the site again and began working on a plan for its maintenance and preservation. It has also bought the road that connects the fort to the G.T. Road, but shopkeepers and roadside hawkers have encroached on that as well.

Published in Dawn, December 18th, 2018