1 week Ago By Sachin Sharma
Vadodara: The damage to Mandvi — at the heart of the walled city and one of the oldest monuments in the city — may be graver than was initially thought. On Friday, more material fell off the pillar that was damaged earlier and exposed the cracks inside. Concerns about the structure were first expressed in Feb after large cracks developed in a pillar.
Citizens raised the issue after which Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) officials rushed to the site. The structure was supported by girders and loose plaster was removed. The priest of the historical Vitthalnathji Temple in the walled city, Hariom Vyas, who has been following the matter for some time now, said that no developments took place after the girders were erected.
"At about 1pm on Friday, more material from the pillar came off. This was from the part above where plaster and material were coming off earlier," said Vyas. He added that till Friday evening, no officials from VMC came to examine the fresh damage.
Structural expert I I Pandya said that the images revealed a vertical split in the pillar. "The un-bonding phase of the lime-based mortar used may have started. Lack of regular inspection and maintenance can lead to such a situation," said Pandya.
State co-convener of Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), Sanjeev Joshi, said there were continuous vertical structural cracks deep in the brickwork of the pillar. "This seems to be a very serious matter," he said. The square pavilion was built in 1511 by Sultan Muzaffar along with the walled city and is at the centre of the roads connecting the four gates of the walled city.
The structure was renovated and extended in 1736 and 1856 during the Gaekwadi rule. It is now a four-storeyed structure with a clock on the top. The pavilion has 16 pillars with three arches on each of its four sides, including the one that is damaged.
There are, however, ways to fix the pillar. "There are techniques that can be used to repair the pillar," said Pandya..
