Underi fort is now a reserved monument ……..Chittaranjan Tembhekar I TNN
Mumbai: Around 18 km into the sea from Mumbais east coast and 5 km from Alibaug, one of the twin scenic island forts Khanderi and Underi is now back into the state government fold after it was illegally sold by its caretakers nearly two years ago.
The state has now officially declared the Underi Fortthat was sold at a paltry Rs 2 crore to a businessmanas a reserved monument. The state has also announced that boat services would be started from Mumbai and Alibaug apart from the existing private ferries in an effort to develop it into a tourist destination.
The final notification was recently released on the directives of Governor S C Jamir. Joyce Sankaran, secretary to the tourism and cultural affairs department, confirmed the development.
The appointed caretakers (Vahiwatdaars) of this fortin connivance with a few government officialshad sold this historic monument by allegedly forging its property documents. Later a local daily in Alibaug, Krushival, wrote about it.
A little towards the north of Alibaug and just 300 meters from Khanderi fort, the Underi fort was built by Siddi Qasam Johar of Janjira in 1680 to defeat the Maratha who ruled Khanderi. In 1732, Sekhoji Angre first attacked this fort but Siddi temporarily handed it over to the British to save it from the Marathas. However, in 1759, the Marathas defeated the British and Siddi and won the fort. After an end to the Peshwa rule in 1818, it went to the British who later handed it over to India after Independence.
Later, the state government appointed some locals as caretakers on the property record. A few government officials joined hands with some caretakers and forged the property document by registering it as non-agriculture and sold it to Ramesh Kundanmal of Dolphin Stone Crest Estate Pvt Ltd at Rs 2 crore by a deal dated May 16, 2006. When this came to light, the government suspended registrar Hargude and stenographer Raotale and cancelled the deed.
Soon after this, the government vowed to bring the monument under its Maharashtra Ancient Monuments and Archeological Sites Act of 1960.
The neighbouring Khanderi was fortified by Shivaji in 1678-79 by building a wall along the entire perimeter of the island. In total ruin, there is a functional lighthouse. Khanderi is under the control of the Mumbai Port Trust. The beautiful twin forts of Alibaug are now being eyed as the next major tourist destination due the lush green beauty of the coast and its scenic surroundings.
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