The moat around Barabati Fort lies in neglect. Picture by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, Jan. 9: Three years on, work on the Rs 17 crore integrated Barabati Fort area development project has made little progress.

The central government had sanctioned funds under the Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme for Small and Medium Towns for the project aimed at developing the 12th century fort area into a major tourist attraction.

As custodian of the Barabati Fort area, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) had allowed the Cuttack Municipal Corporation to clean the moat around it for introducing boating facilities vis-à-vis converting adjoining vacant land into mini parks with fountains. The ASI was to renovate the stone wall of the moat.

Though clearing of weeds, excavation and removal of silt was undertaken at the moat encircling the 104-acre fort, the work was stalled due to high ground water level.

The project, foundation stone of which was laid by chief minister Naveen Patnaik on August 31, 2010, was to be completed by March 31, 2012. “There has been no change in the condition of the gadakhai (as the moat is known locally),” said Sanjeev Dasgupta, a resident of the nearby Madhusudan Nagar.

The corporation had received Rs 8 crore central assistance for the project. It was expected to submit the utilisation certificate by end of the 2010-11 fiscal year for release of the rest of the funds. But it was not submitted and further funds were not released.

“Clearing of weeds and draining out of water for further excavation and removal of silt will resume soon to make the moat ready for implementation of the Barabati fort area development project,” the corporation’s assistant engineer D.R. Tripathy said.

“The road and buildings department, Cuttack division, has already been asked to construct the arch bridge over the moat on the western side to facilitate boating on all sides,” Tripathy said.

There has been also no progress in renovation and restoration work on the stone wall of the moat. Restoration of the wall can be taken up only after draining out of water and silt excavation work, ASI officials said.

Civic officials conceded that the clearing of water hyacinths that had grown in abundance in the water and completion of excavation of silt had become a difficult task. To tide of this problem, construction of a separate drainage channel was undertaken on the southern side of the moat to connect it with a storm water channel nearby.

But the contractor carrying out the work left it halfway.