HYDERABAD: A four-member committee formed by the Sindh culture minister to look into the Sept 2 collapse of historic Pucca Qila’s facade, has submitted its interim report to the department, recommending cancellation of the contract of Waliullah Bhutto and Saddam Bhutto immediately considering the fact that there was no provision for “demolishing protected heritage”, and also stern disciplinary action against the persons concerned.

The report has accused the district administration of “not cooperating with archaeology official in Hyderabad” during conservation when approached.

The committee was headed by Sher Mohammad Mahar.

According to Director General Culture Manzoor Kanasro, the interim report has been submitted, but a detailed report would be presented later.

‘Cracks appeared on main gate, it lost strength and support and collapsed’

The report’s findings have referred to the Jan 7, 2021 letter of resident engineer Nadeem Manzoor Shah with reference to observation of “dangerous condition of main gate, necessary repairing/preservation work of main gate”. It said the director general (antiquities and archaeology) was approached to ask the director of provincial development monitoring and implementation (PDM&IC) “to erect a parapet wall near office block/Mir’s Haram to keep construction material safe therein. However, neither response whatsoever was received nor boundary wall was erected”.

It said that during requisite works, PDM&IC confronted issues for which the assistant director Pucca Qila office approached the assistant commissioner (City) for deputing police constables at the site “by removing all types of hurdles being faced by labourers in carrying out conservation work”.

It said the assistant director approached the city AC for a “helping hand of police for labourers at main gate (entrance) through a letter as work in question had started in August”. Due to the deplorable condition and incomprehensive method of labourers, Ms Sindhu Chandio, assistant director, telephonically informed higher authorities regarding unsatisfactory work at the main gate of the fort “but no response is received”.

It said assistant director met the AC for the removal of shops from the main gate (entrance) to provide a peaceful environment to labourers for carrying out conservation work on the entire fortification wall besides the main gate.

Before it, it said, Naseem Akhtar Jalbani, assistant conservation officer, visited the main gate and met engineer Najam of the contractor’s firm and directed him to ensure underpinning for strengthening the foundation of the fort’s structure in addition to work with standard lines of conservation.

He assured her of carrying out work as per the required working plan. “However, Ms Naseem Akhtar Jalbani was not satisfied from response of engineer and called Director General (Antiquities & Archaeology) ... and briefed him about all situation and undesired working at fort,” stated the report.

It said: “Consequently and since interconnected wall (fortification) of main gate was being demolished, cracks appeared on main gate, it lost strength and support and collapsed. All state of affairs reflect contractor was not carrying out conservation work as per work order but doing such works at his own without seeking proper consultation from superior officer, professional or archaeologist”.

The report recommended the immediate cancellation of the contract with Waliullah Bhutto and Saddam Bhutto as there was no provision for demolition of protected heritage in the Antiquities Act, 1975, and stern disciplinary action against the people concerned as per rules.

It also suggested that all contractors be directed to seek expertise of archaeologists and professional individuals with the collaboration of the department in the on-going conservation and development projects.

“Conservation/working plan of scheme/project should be shared with respective officer in charge of the site/monument/museum besides technical advisers and experts. Skilled labourers should be hired who have experience of conservation at archaeological sites/monuments,” the report said.

“Before starting conservation work, precautions and expected scenarios be discussed/settled in consultation with experts and respective officer-in-charge,” it said and recommended formation of a technical committee of experts and archaeologists to determine the importance of conservation by covering aspects to avoid damage in awarded-conservation work order to contractors in the future.

The report holds the contractors squarely responsible for the destruction of the fort’s facade. But it ignores a number of points which reflect the negligence of archaeology staff. For inexplicable reasons the report overlooks part of the Jan 7 letter which reads “we have to demolish main entrance gate with defence wall (95pc) and re-construct it with same type of material, shape and theme”.

Published in Dawn, September 6th, 2021