Encroachment buries ancient step-well

According to sources, the vav, believed to be over 30 feet deep at the water table and having a diameter of approximately 24 feet including the walls, was sealed with concrete slabs. Following this, the owner extended his residential premises and constructed three shops, thus occupying the entire area.

According to archaeologist, Surendra Vyas, who was then a resident of the neighbouring Chandranagar society, the vav belonged to the medieval period of Gujarat and was almost 400 years old.

The existence of the well has been confirmed by many residents of the locality. However, when this reporter visited the house of the alleged encroacher, posing as a researcher, family members first denied any knowledge. Later, changing her mind the lady of the house said, 8220;I have heard there was a well somewhere in this area but don8217;t know where it was located.8221;

Some of the residents have alleged that the encroachment was supported by Congress councillor Shailesh Mehta alias Sotta, who was recently released from judicial custody after being detained under PASA for almost 10 days.Mehta told Express Newsline that the Suryanagar Society was constructed on the property sold by one Govindlal Rajgor in 1963. The plots purchased by individual buyers then included the one where the step-well was located. 8220;An owner is entitled to make the desirable changes on his property,8221; he said.

Denying that the alleged encroacher had extended his premises, Mehta, however, added that the shops constructed in the area were illegal. 8220;There was some technical problem in the final plot deal with the Vadodara Municipal Corporation because of which the matter has been taken to court,8221; he said. He, however, was quick to add, 8220;There are thousands of such illegal shops on the Waghodia Road stretch. Why should we isolate this case?8221;

According to Mehta, who has been a resident of the area for over 25 years, the vav had been filled up long before the present owner constructed his house here. 8220;The step-well was dry and hence filled with sand and gravel for the safety of children. This was over 15 years ago,8221; he said.While the residents agreed that the vav was dry at the time it was sealed, they debated the ownership rights of the alleged encroacher on an ancient structure. Vyas said he had brought the matter to the notice of the Archaeological Survey of India ASI authorities at the time. 8220;But I did not receive any feedback. May be if the ASI had taken an initiative then the vav could have been saved,8221; he said.

When contacted, VMC8217;s Town Development Officer Prakash Pethe said that he would inquire into the matter. He added that he will have to conduct a field study to establish the ownership and other things.