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Designated a Monument of National Importance by the Archaeological Survey of India, the Sarkhej Roza today is a far cry from its glorious past.
Residents and commuters passing by the historical monument have complained of a foul smell emanating on the stretch.
Following a petition by the Sarkhej Roza Committee over the persistent issue, Gujarat High Court has sought a reply from the Archaeological department. The next hearing is scheduled for September 30.
The petition states that Sarkhej Roza is a historic monument and heritage site. However, the authorities have been grossly negligent in its upkeep.
For a long time, a strange and unbearable stench has been emanating from the premises, to the extent that one cannot even stand there for five minutes.
The complex includes Makarba Lake, also known as Shingola Talav, where residents have illegally connected sewage and drainage lines.
So, the Amdavad Municipal Corporation (AMC) should conduct an on-site inspection and take immediate measures to resolve the issue, the petition adds.
The petition also pointed out that foreign tourists frequently visit this heritage site, and even the President of India has visited it in the past. Despite repeated representations made by the petitioners to the authorities, no solution has been provided.
Meanwhile, the AMC strongly opposed the petition, contending that it has no role in the matter.
The AMC stated that Sarkhej Roza is a protected historic monument that falls under the jurisdiction of the Archaeological department.
The sewage lines referred to by the petitioners were laid with their own consent, and since the Sarkhej Roza Committee is a Waqf trust, the matter should not be raised before the high court, but rather before the Waqf Tribunal.