Mungantiwar seeks expert inspection and repair of cracks in Chandrapur's Jatpura Gate

MLA Sudhir Mungantiwar has taken the initiative to save the Jatpura Gate in Chandrapur. He has asked the departments concerned to have the gate inspected by experts and repaired by scientific methods. The structure, part of Chandrapur's historical heritage, is regarded as a witness to the grandeur of the Gond era.

Mungantiwar has noticed that large cracks have developed in the joints of the stone masonry on the inner side of the gate. In several places the joints between the stones have opened. He said this heritage structure, which has seen hundreds of years of history, must not be allowed to be neglected with time, and that no threat should come to the safety of the building. He has therefore called for immediate action.

He made the demand in a letter to the Chandrapur district collector and the superintending archaeologist of the Mumbai Circle of the Archaeological Survey of India. The letter says expert officers and engineers of the archaeology department should visit the site at the earliest and examine the gate. A detailed technical assessment should be made of the stone joints, the cracks, wear and tear in the construction, and the strength of the stones.

Mungantiwar also suggested that if the structure is found to be in immediate danger during the inspection, necessary precautionary steps be taken so that no accident occurs. According to him, timely preventive measures and technical repairs can avert further damage. Experts should also examine what effect this may have on the strength of the gate's structure.

On the repairs, the letter says that while filling the open joints and cracks, care should be taken that the gate's original architectural style and historical form remain as they are. A technical plan and estimated cost of repairs should be prepared according to archaeological principles, and the work should be started on priority. Mungantiwar said superficial repairs alone are not enough, and the original structure and historical features of the building must survive.

For the future, he has stressed the need for a permanent arrangement of regular maintenance, periodic technical inspections and monitoring of the condition of the structure. He has also asked that a full report be made available on the results of the site inspection, the technical assessment, the proposed method of repair and the timeline fixed for the work. He said it is often difficult to restore the original form of historical buildings once they are damaged, so protective steps must be taken in time, without waiting for the damage to grow.

Mungantiwar urged that the Jatpura Gate is an important symbol of Chandrapur's historical identity and Gond-era grandeur. He said it should be preserved scientifically so that this priceless heritage is kept safe for future generations.