Historic watchtower lacks maintenance

Team Udayavani, Oct 24, 2019, 12:34 PM IST

Mangaluru: Boloor ward located on the banks of Phalguni river is a beautiful region amalgamated with fishing.  The area is known for amicable existence of the Moagveeras, Protestant Christians and others belonging to a variety of communities. However, the major attraction of the ward is the historic Sultan Battery located here.

There is a problem concerning the underground drainage between Boloor wet well. This is the major problem of this location. The work was started at the cost of Rs 80 lakh. But as the work was progressing in Sultan Battery area, a massive boulder was encountered because of which the work could not be continued. The work was stopped at its half. There is information that the work will be later continued under ADB. There is an electric crematorium in Boloor, a public ‘Rangamandira’ at Bokkapattana and a few inner roads have been developed. Although underground drainage work has been conducted, there is furthermore work to be done. Since it is an area located along the river bank, the tourism department had enough opportunities to develop tourism here in a unique way, but it had not be done completely.

Historic watch tower lacks maintenance!

“Sultan Battery” is a watch tower constructed here under the order of Tippu Sultan to maintain a vigil on any naval vessels attempting to enter into Gurpur river. Although it is a watch tower, its built is similar to a fort. The watch tower which was constructed in 1784 is presently under the Archaeological Society of India. Under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act (or AMASR Act), it is a protected monument which also makes it a national monument. Hence, no maintenance work can be undertaken here by the city corporation or the district administration. Its maintenance is solely the responsibility of ASI which has failed at it miserably.