The Barabati Fort. Telegraph file picture

Cuttack, Nov. 1: Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the custodian of the 700-year-old Barabati Fort, has informed Orissa High Court that it plans to develop a garden and an avenue in the south-eastern side of the historic site.

The fort spread over 100 acre was declared a protected site in 1915.

“The central government had provided Rs 83 lakh for a beautification project to turn Barabati Fort into an exclusive tourist spot. Work has already begun,” the ASI officials informed the court.

The court was apprised on the ASI’s plan when a PIL was lodged against the agency for not letting “entry” of civilians into the fort area.

The agency, on their part, informed the court of their project and plans to keep mischief mongers away from the area, especially when renovation and beautification work is under way.

Former advocate-general Sobhesh Roy had filed the PIL, which came up for hearing on Tuesday.

Though declared a protected site in 1915, ASI had staked its claim over Barabati only in 1989 on the occasion of the millennium celebration of Cuttack. Over 50 per cent of the 100acre which was declared “protected” by the court remains till date encroached.

Armed with a high court order, the ASI had stepped up its efforts to clear the fort premises in 2005.

As a part of the retrieval process the ASI had taken over part of Satyabrata Stadium, under the department of sports and youth affairs, which was constructed in one part of the premises years after the Orissa Council of Sports came up in 1957.

The ASI had initially served notices for demolishing the sports complex, but had later decided to allow sports activities. “The decision was taken after considering the sentiments of sportspersons and organisations,” the ASI informed the court on Tuesday.

But, ASI officials were “alarmed” when unidentified persons broke the locks of the fort’s gates where work on a garden and an avenue was going on. The ASI sought judicial intervention and lodged an FIR at the Cantonment police station on October 17.

Then a two judge bench of Justices B.P. Das and M.M. Das issued directions to police to identify the culprits and take appropriate action before the PIL was taken up for next hearing on November 16.

The fort was a citadel of power for Hindu rulers of Ganga Dynasty, Suryavamsi-Gajapati Dynasty and the Bhois who had ruled successively from 13th Century to the 16th Century here till Bengal’s Sulaiman Karani killed Mukunda Dev in 1568 and occupied it.