Maharashtra Minister Mangal Prabhat orders blacklisting of BMC contractor for 'damaging' Banganga Steps, repair work underway at Heritage site
Jun 25, 2024
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], June 26 : Maharashtra Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha on Tuesday visited the historical Banganga Lake site after a contractor assigned the desilting work of the 11th-century Banganga temple tank in Mumbai's Malabar Hill area, mowed over the surrounding heritage steps with a JCB machine, causing damage to them.
The Minister said that he contacted Mumbai Police Commissioner Vivek Phansalkar to file an FIR against the contractor responsible for damaging the heritage steps . He also ordered the blacklisting of the contractor.
The minister said that he directed the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and Mumbai Municipal Corporation officials to start repair work of the damaged heritage steps immediately. The repair work will be completed within the next 72 hours, he added.
He also instructed the formation of a local committee to oversee future work and ordered the establishment of a committee by Mumbai Municipal Corporation officials to investigate the entire incident. This committee will submit a report within the next 15 days, he said.
The heritage steps around the 11th-century Banganga tank being repaired after they were left damaged during desilting works here. The damage was caused by a JCB machine that was used during the desilting being carried out by a BMC contractor.
"We are always committed to preserving and conserving Mumbai's historical heritage. The site will soon be restored to its original state," Lodha said.
The Archeological Survey of India (ASI) has rapped the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation for the damage, stating that Banganga is a state-protected monument and the use of the JCB machine has wrecked the steps.
The GSB Temple Trust, which owns the Banganga tank has also pressed for an FIR to be registered against the BMC for its negligence.
Shiv Sena MP Milind Deora targeted the BMC for its misgovernance and said this will not be tolerated under chief minister Eknath Shinde. He alleged that the BMC has been plundered "as an ATM for almost 3 decades".
"Glad to see the GSB Temple Trust & @ASIGoI taking action against those responsible for the #Banganga mishap. They have my full support. @mybmc has been plundered as an ATM for almost 3 decades. Under @mieknathshinde Ji, we will not tolerate BMC's misgovernance," he said in a post on X.
