Wai residents angry as ghat steps and platforms on Krishna riverbank damaged during civic works

The original character of the historic ghats along the Krishna river in Wai town, Satara district, is under threat. Sewage drainage and footpath works are under way in the town, and extensive demolition has been carried out for them. Several carved stones have gone missing at the Brahmanshahi Ramdoh Ali ghat. Residents of Wai are sharply angry over the matter.

Wai is a historic town with many old temples and ghats. Along the Krishna river that flows past the town stand several temples, including Kashivishweshwar and Maha Ganapati, and stone-masonry ghats. The ghats are regarded as a pride of the state. The municipal council is currently carrying out sewage drainage and footpath works near them. In the course of these works, old architecture has been damaged in several places. The contractor's careless planning has raised questions about the heritage of the ghats.

The Brahmanshahi ghat earlier had four stone platforms for devotees and tourists to sit on. These platforms have been demolished. Several social organisations had written letters demanding that the platforms be restored, and residents say the administration had also given an assurance to this effect. Today, however, one of the four platforms is missing altogether and the other three lie broken. People are asking who removed the platforms and where the missing one has gone.

On the other side, the historic steps of Ramdoh Ali have also been badly damaged in the works. This is the route used for the lamp-lighting on Kojagiri Purnima and for traditional Ganesh immersion. It is alleged that scattered stones and the excessive use of cement and tiles are destroying the natural beauty of the ghats.

People are asking whether the work was begun without the permission of the archaeology department and without any survey. The demand for an inquiry into the development works is gaining strength. Residents of Wai have said plainly that Wai should certainly develop, but not by breaking its rich history. They have warned of an intense agitation if the missing platform is not found immediately and all damaged structures are not restored to the original stone design.

Shreyas Khatavkar, sarpanch of the Krishnabai Sansthan Ghat, Brahmanshahi, Wai, said that while carrying out the footpath and other works, the municipal council has removed the old historic platforms and stone steps at Brahmanshahi and Ramdoh Ali. This has damaged the historic architecture. Letters have been sent to the municipal council from time to time seeking immediate repair of the damage. The repair should be done at once, he said.

Sanjeevani Dalvi, chief officer of Wai, said footpath and sewage drainage works are under way in the Brahmanshahi and Ramdoh Ali areas of Wai town. During this work, the old historic structures have suffered some damage. However, the contractor has been bound by a condition to restore the construction to its earlier state, she said, and the work will be completed by him soon.