Waqf Board claims ownership of Bidar Fort, 2 villages; ASI in dark

BIDAR: Waqf Board has claimed ownership of the historic Bidar Fort - a protected monument under the custody of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) for more than 70 years - and two villages in Bidar taluk in a development that has taken ASI officers, district's deputy commissioner and local elected representatives by both shock and surprise.

Interestingly, the fort built in 1427 by Bahamani Sultanate was classified as belonging to Waqf Board in 2005. ASI has been in charge of the monument's upkeep even now.

Once described as Asia's largest fort, it was declared a protected monument in the Gazette of India on Nov 29, 1951. However, a notification issued on Aug 17, 2005, claimed the fort area as waqf property.

The areas claimed include Solah Kambh or 16-pillar monument, 14 of the 15 domes in Ashtur and multiple tombs, including that of Amir Barid in Barid Shahi Park.

Though the CM issued back-to-back clarifications and an order to nullify any takeover notices in the past fortnight, farmers and citizens are still a frazzled lot.

Anirudh Desai, assistant surveyor with the archaeology department, claimed he has no knowledge of the govt notification that classifies "this protected site" as wakf property since 2005. "The relevant department records are in the head office in Hampi," he said, adding the Hampi office may shed more light on the issue.

Deputy commissioner Shilpa Sharma, too, claimed she is unaware of Bidar Fort being designated as Waqf Board property and said she will obtain information from the department concerned.

Similarly, Dharmapur and Chatnalli villages of Bidar taluk are claimed by Waqf Board. Sources said a total of 26 acres under Survey No. 87 of Dharmapur village has been marked. The waqf ownership, which was absent from land records until 2001, was incorporated after 2013. Nearly 19 acres of land that belongs to farmer Krishnamurthy in Udabal village in Chittaguppa taluk has been assigned to Waqf Board. Some 30 years ago, Krishnamurthy, in a gesture, had agreed to the burial of a Muslim man in a corner of his farmland.

In 2013, Waqf Board officially recognised 960 acres of land in Chatnalli village. Concerned about it, farmers from the village, led by MLA Beldale, recently met the CM, seeking a solution.