Thursday, March 10 2005 12:34 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Belgaum (Karnataka): The proposed sale of two historic forts - 16th century Bhimgad fort at Gavali village and the Rajhans fort at Yellur - built during Chatrapathi Shivaji's reign has caused huge public outrage and protests in Belgaum.

The caretakers' proposals have come under sharp sentiment-related public rebuke and shooting of protest memoranda to the authorities concerned.

In case of the Bhimgad Fort, caretakers Gadkaris are reported to have already signed a sale deed with a private company in Kerala. As per the deed, portions of the fort having archaeological significance would be sold to the company. The company also gets ownership right for 90 of the 233 acres of land belonging to the company.

In the Rajhans fort case, Srimanth Raghunath Rao Patwardhan, the Maharaj of Kurundwad, who claims to be the owner, reportedly issued a notification for the sale of fort with premises in a newspaper.

According to history, Shivaji stayed in the Bhimgad fort on his return to Raigad after winning the Basarur Fort, which was under the Adilshahis of Bijapur. Shivaji's son Sambhaji also stayed in the Bhimgad fort before he waged an attack on the Portuguese at Fonda. The fort used for safe keeping of several historic documents and records.

There was a public outcry over the sale proposals of both the forts. People in Khanapur taluk forwarded a letter to the Archaeological Department expressing their resentment over the sale of Bhimgad fort. The department, in a letter to the Deputy Commissioner of Belgaum, asked him to take proper care of the fort. An official from the department reportedly visited Bhimgad and submitted a report on his findings there.

The Deputy Commissioner asked the Khanapur tahsildar to furnish him with full details on the issue, it was reported. A reply from the tahsildar is awaited.

Sources reveal that a person has already come forward to purchase the Rajhans fort for Rs 35 lakhs. The sale notice, meanwhile, has kicked up a furore in the villages. The villagers allege that the Patawardhans are merely owners of 10 acres and 10 'gunthas' of land and not of the fort. They have decided to take out a procession in the city on March 10 against the sale of the fort.