“The budget is inadequate and I am trying to get more people since we are short-staffed. We have to prioritise work and do it in a phased manner,” said G S Narsimhan, Superintending Archeologist of ASI’s Mumbai Circle.

“I am waiting for the court order and will see it in black and white first. We will then call a meeting to decide on action that needs to be taken against illegal encroachments in the prohibited area around the protected sites,” Narsimhan said.

A week ago, the Bombay High Court passed an order directing the ASI to demolish unauthorised constructions and remove all illegal encroachments around the protected heritage monuments, including caves.

“The order needs to be understood properly as the rules are well defined,” said Narsimhan, explaining the clauses and the complications—structures located within the first 100 metres of a protected site are completely prohibited; but construction and mining can take place in the next 200 metres in a regulated manner.

Narsimhan explained the complications: “The structures that came up before June 1992--when the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act was notified—will be saved. Many other structures that came up before 1995 fall under state schemes will also be saved. Besides, several residents have ownership documents so they will have to be given alternate accommodation,” Yet, to begin with, he said the ASI would conduct the survey of encroachments and slums around the four caves to get a clearer picture and act accordingly.

Besides, the ASI has separate plans chalked out for each of the four cave sites — Jogeshwari, Kanheri, Mahakali and Mandpeshwar.

Jogeshwari
“It’s the cave that needs most attention. We have in the past one year removed almost 400 truckloads of debris that used to be dumped around the Jogeshwari caves. Also, the stone used is of an inferior quality which wears out very fast. So the replacements are being transported from Nevasa,” said Narsimhan.

And to tackle the problem of inferior stone and defaced carvings, the ASI has planned to use the guniting method—also used at Elephanta caves and Bijapur's Gol Gumbaj — where lime concrete is sprayed on irregular, vertical and overhead surfaces to protect slopes, big structures and uneven surfaces from erosion. “This will be replicated in all the caves,” Narsimhan said, adding that the facelift of Jogeshwari caves would take around six months.

Mandapeshwar
The ASI would spend around Rs 17-18 lakh to improve the situation of Mandapeshwar caves in 2008. “We will demarcate and fence the caves after coordinating with the church located in the periphery of the caves. ASI and the church authorities were locked in a legal battle and the High Court sought the demarcation of their boundaries. Now when the case has been cleared, we will go ahead with the work,” Narsimhan said.

Mahakali
For Mahakali caves, according to ASI, the Union Ministry of Tourism has already approved its plan to outsource the maintenance work. An architect, who has been contracted for landscaping, building toilet blocks and providing other amenities to visitors, is preparing the blueprint.

Kanheri
While Kanheri caves are among the best-preserved heritage site of Mumbai, the ASI is building a toilet block at the national monument. These toilets will also be disabled friendly, Narsimhan said.