Internal delay in Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)'s transfer of funds is the latest hurdle to hit the restoration of Golghar, the heritage granary.
It has led to inordinate delay in work and a risk of damage to the British-era granary. The restoration on its outer facade has been suspended for the past eight months though two years have passed after the original deadline. Work was put on hold for around 10 months in 2014 and the reason for it was attributed to unavailability of required equipment. However, sources have claimed that it was transfer of funds.
A senior official in the state archaeological directorate, preferring anonymity, said: "In 2011, we had given around Rs 2 crore for restoration work of Golghar directly to the ASI headquarters at Delhi. It was supposed to transfer the funds to their Patna circle. Initially, around Rs 90 lakh was transferred to the ASI's Patna circle, which was used to fill up the cracks on the inner walls, but no further transfer of funds took place over the past two years."
Restoration work on the granary was necessitated after its 3.6m thick wall developed a vertical crack near the staircase in 2010. It had developed three major cracks from the gateway to the top. Though the state archaeological directorate is the custodian of Golghar, it asked the ASI's Patna circle to undertake the restoration work on its outer and inner walls.
Between 2011 and 2013, all three cracks were sealed and re-plastered on the inner walls. Sources said the ASI was required to re-plaster the entire outer wall and paint it afresh. Installation of new railings would be required along the 142 steps of the spiral stairway, as the existing one was damaged at many places.
"We have requested our headquarters to release requisite funds to carry out further restoration works on Golghar. The work would be completed within three four months after the funds are released," said a senior official in the Patna circle of ASI.
Delay in restoration work has also posed a risk of damage to the granary.
Atul Kumar Verma, the director at the state archaeological directorate, said: "The plaster on the outer wall was removed eight months ago. Since then the inner brick structure is exposed to weather elements, including rain, which can lead to further damage. We recently wrote a letter to the ASI headquarters to resume work at the earliest to prevent such damage to the heritage granary."
According to sources, British army captain John Garstin built Golghar in 1786. It has a foundation of 125m and a height of 96ft. It has a storage capacity of 1,40,000 tonnes of foodgrain. Repair work at Golghar was last carried out around 20 years ago.
