KURNOOL: Historians, advocates and concerned citizens of Kurnool demand government to declare Chennampalli Fort as protected monument and index it in the Archaeological Survey of India listed monuments. An advocate said, “As the Fort is in the government records mentioned as Grama Kantham, it is that much easy for the government to accord the status of a protected monument as there is no requirement of acquisition was involved.”
Head of Department of Archeology and Architecture of Sri Pottisreeramulu Telugu University at Srisailam, K. Timma Reddy, “Chennampalli Fort was built by a palegar and belongs to medieval period. It may not be indexed. But this should not be the reason for the district administration to vandalise it and hurt sentiments of descendants of those palegars.”
Speaking to this correspondent, he said that the Ancient Monuments Preservation Act, 1904 states that any structure, erection or monument, or any tumulus or place of internment, or any cave, rock-sculpture, inscription or monolith, which is of historical, archaeological or artistic interest, or any remains thereof, and includes—(a) the site of an ancient monument; (b) such portion of land adjoining the site of an ancient monument as may required for fencing or covering in or otherwise preserving such monument; (c) the means of access to and convenient inspection of an ancient monument.
Timma Reddy said that under Article 42 and 51A(f) of the Indian Constitution it is our fundamental duty to value and protect our heritage by preserving our historical monuments and protect them from all damages. Periodical surveys have to be maintained and conducted duly by independent agencies. He sought the intervention of the collect to appreciate the intention of enacting Ancient Monuments Preservation Act, 1904 and Prevention of Damage of Public Property Act, 1984.
Fuether Mr Reddy said, “Article 49 Protection of monuments and places and objects of national importance It shall be the obligation of the State to protect every monument or place or object of artistic or historic interests, declared by or under law made by Parliament to be of national importance, from spoliation, disfigurement, destruction, removal, disposal or export, as the case may be.”
