G.R. Dt. 19th July, 2024 – Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs – Sub – Establishment of Pratapgad Fort Development Authority
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Regarding Establishment of Pratapgad Fort Development Authority
Government of Maharashtra
Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs
Government Resolution No:- Smarak-2024/Pra.Kra.71/San.Ka-3
Hutatma Raj Guru Chowk, Madam Cama Marg,
Mantralaya, Mumbai-400 032
Dated 19th July, 2024
Vide:-
1] Government Resolution in the Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, bearing No:- TDM-2017/10/Pra.Kra.984/Paryatan, Dt.20.12.2017.
2] Government Resolution in the Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, bearing No:-Ra.KiPa-2018/Pra.Kra.111/San.Ka-3, Dt. 16.10.2018.
3] Government Resolution in the Department of Planning, bearing No:-TiKsheVi-2024/Pra.Kra.16/1444A, Dt.05.03.2024.
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Preface:-
The Hon’ble Chief Minister during his speech in the Shiv Rajyabhishek (Shivaji Coronation) Anniversary function at Raigad made an announcement that for the overall development of Pratapgad fort, Pratapgad Fort Development Authority would be established, along the lines of Raigad Fort Development Authority.
02. Pratapgad Fort is situated at Mauje Ran Adva Gaud in Mahabaleshwar Taluka of Satara District. The construction work of Pratapgad was carried out in the year 1656 on the orders of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj under the supervision of Moropant Pingale. On 10th November, 1659, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj slayed Adilshahi Commander Afzal Khan at the foothills of the fort with great astuteness.
03. A proposal for awarding World Heritage Site Nomination for 12 forts in Maharashtra having outstanding universal value exemplifying the Maratha Military Style Architecture, has already been sent by the Government of India to the UNESCO. This Nomination Proposal includes Pratapgad Fort.
04. Under Government Resolution at Reference No. 1 above, Raigad Fort and Precincts Tourism Development Plan Authority has already been established for Raigad Fort. Pursuant to announcement made by the Hon’ble Chief Minister, the Government contemplated the matter of establishing a separate Pratapgad Fort Development Authority for Pratapgad fort to be presided over by Shrimant Chhatrapati Udayan Raje Bhosale, Hon’ble Member of Parliament.
Government Resolution:-
Sanction is hereby accorded under this Government Resolution for the establishment of “Pratapgad Fort Development Authority” to be presided over by Shirmant Chhatrapati Udayan Raje Bhosale, Hon’ble Member of Parliament for carrying out overall development of Pratapgad fort.
02. The composition of Pratapgad Fort Development Authority shall be as here under:-
| Sr. No. | Office Bearers | Office |
| 1. | Shrimant Chhatrapati Udayan Raje Bhosale, Hon’ble Member of Parliament | President |
| 2. | Local Member of Legislative Assembly | Member |
| 3. | Divisional Commissioners, Pune Division | Member |
| 4. | Managing Director, Tourism Development Corporation, Mumbai | Member |
| 5. | District Collector, Satara | Member Secretary |
| 6. | Chief Executive Officer, Zilla Parishad, Satara | Member |
| 7. | Regional Director, Archaeological Survey of India, Pune | Member |
| 8. | Superintendent Engineer, Public Works Department, Satara | Member |
| 9. | Director, the Directorate of Museums, Mumbai | Member |
| 10. | Special Invitee/Expert Members 1] Shri. Nitin Shinde 2] Shri. Milind Ekbote 3] Shri. Sharad Ponkshe 4] Shri. Sadashiv Tetwilkar 5] Shri. Somnath Dhumal 6] Shri. Chandrakant Patil 7] Shri. Pankaj Chavhan 8] Shri. Amol Jadhav | Member |
03. The Operational Scope and Jurisdiction of Pratapgad Fort Development Authority shall be as hereunder:-
(i) To approve Budgets and Plans pertaining to the works sanctioned by the Government under Pratapgad Fort Protection and Conservation Plan.
(ii) To allocate the funds received/financial resources.
(iii) To re-allocate and re-organise the funds under the sanctioned Pratapgad Fort Development Plan.
(iv) To monitor the progress of works undertaken by the Pratpgad Fort Development Authority.
(v) To activate various units created under the Project.
04. Meeting of Pratapgad Authority:-
(i) A meeting of the Authority shall be held each month. When holding such regular meeting is not possible sanction shall be obtained by means of rotation and a decision shall be taken.
(ii) If necessary, the Pratapgad Fort Development Authority may invite the concerned officers or experts to attend the meeting as special invitees.
05. Sanction is hereby accorded for setting up the Project Planning, Evaluation and Monitoring Cell for the implementation of various works undertaken under the auspices of the Pratapgad Fort Development Authority.
(I) Composition of the Project Planning, Evaluation and Monitoring Cell:-
| Sr. No. | Title of the Post | Number of Posts |
| [a] | Retired Experts from the Indian Archaeological Department | Maximum 6 |
| [b] | Special Expert Officers:- | |
| (1) | Advisory Member (Archaeology) | 1 |
| (2) | Advisory Member (Heritage Construction) | 1 |
| (3) | Advisory Member (Mediaeval History) | 1 |
| [c] | Other Staff Members:- | |
| (1) | Conservation Architect | 1 |
| (2) | Civil Engineer/Archeological Engineer | 1 |
| (3) | Technical Co-ordinator | 1 |
| (4) | Special Duty Officer | 1 |
| (5) | Personal Assistant to the President of the Authority | 1 |
| (6) | Peon | 1 |
| Total | 15 |
(II) The Authority is hereby allowed to hire the services of the Expert Advisors set out under sub-head (a) and (b) of the Descriptive Statement above for the purpose of this cell, initially for the period of one year. Having regard to the nature of the Project, as well as the experience and seniority of such Advisors/Experts in the respective fields, agreements should be executed with them for one year, subject to the limit of per diem rate of honorarium, as set out in Government Resolution in the Department of Public Works, bearing No. KhaKsheSa-2015/Pra.Kra.209/Raste-9A, Dt. 24.01.2017. The honorarium to be paid to such experts shall be exclusive of Service Tax/Casual Expenses as set out in the provisions of the aforesaid Government Resolution in the Public Works Department.
(III) Instead of recruiting the other staff members such as Special Duty Officers/Personal Assistant/Peon, necessary for the works of the Project Planning, Evaluation and Monitoring Cell on contractual basis, the District Collector, Satara-cum-Member Secretary of Pratapgad Fort Development Authority should provide them from amongst the staff members in the offices concerned with the working of the Plan or where adequate staff is not so available, services should be procured from the staff hired by such officers on contractual basis.
(IV) The District Collector, Satara should provide 2 D.V. Vehicles for the occasional tours undertaken by the President and other Members of the Authority during the course of work of the Authority and in the event that such D.V. Vehicles cannot be made available, the District Collector, Satara should make arrangements at his level for hiring them on rental basis, as per the nature of occasion.
(V) The expenditure incurred on Project Planning Evaluation and Monitoring Cell under the Pratapgad Fort Development Authority should be met from the Contingency Fund under the said Plan.
06. Providing Funds for the Pratapgad Fort Development Authority:-
(i) Funds shall be provided to the Authority from the Plan sanctioned by the Department of Planning, District Planning Committee and such other means.
(ii) Under Government Resolution in the Department of Planning at Reference No. 3 above, a Layout of Rs. 381.56 Crore under the Integrated Tourism Development Plan for the development of religious, historic and scenic beauty tourist spots from the Western Ghats in Satara district, has been sanctioned. This includes a sum of Rs. 127.15 crore sanctioned for the protection and conservation of Pratapgad fort. Of these, the Department of Cultural Affairs shall only handle the subject of protection and conservation of Pratapgad fort comprised in this Integrated Plan, through “Pratapgad Fort Development Authority”. Funds to the extent of Rs.1,27,15,00,000/- (Rupees One Hundred Twenty Seven Crore and Fifteen Lakh Only- in Words) should be transferred to the Pratapgad Fort Development Authority for the protection and conservation of Pratapgad fort.
07. The works under the Plans sanctioned by the Department of Planning are looked after by the District Level Committee (Presided over by the Hon’ble Guardian Minister) and the District Level Executive Committee (presided over by the Hon’ble District Collector) constituted under the Government Resolution in the Department of Planning Dt.04.06.2015. The works other than the works pertaining to the protection and conservation of Pratapgad fort comprised in the Integrated Tourism Development Plan for the development of Religious, Historic and Scenic beauty Tourist Spots from the Western Ghats in Satara district shall be looked after by these two Committees. On the other hand, the work of these two Committees pertaining to protection and conservation of Pratapgad fort shall be looked after by the Pratapgad Fort Development Authority.
08. This Government Resolution has been issued with the concurrence of the Department of Planning, vide its Informal Reference No:-AaNauPa-SanKra.10/2024/1444-A and Informal Reference of the Finance Department, bearing No:-AaNauPa-SanKra.211/2024/Vyaya-15, Dt.07.03.2024.
09. This Government Resolution has been made available on the website of the Government of Maharashtra viz. www.maharashtra.gov.in and its Code Number is 202407191056010023. This Government Resolution is attested and issued under Digital Signature.
By the order and in the name of the Governor of Maharashtra.
SUMANT DINKAR PASHTE – Digital Signature
[S.D.Pashte]
Under Secretary, Government of Maharashtra
To,
1] The Principal Secretary to the Hon’ble Governor, Rah Bhawan, Mumbai,
2] The Principal Secretary to the Hon’ble Chief Minister, Mantralaya, Mumbai,
3] The Secretary to the Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister (Home), Mantralaya, Mumbai,
4] The Private Secretary to the Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister (Finance and Planning), Mantralaya, Mumbai,
5] The Private Secretary to the Hon’ble Chairman of the Legislative Council, Maharashtra Legislature, Mumbai,
6] The Private Secretary to the Hon’ble Speaker, Maharashtra Legislative Assembly/Legislative Council,
7] The Private Secretaries to the Leaders of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly/Legislative Council,
8] The Private Secretary to the Hon’ble Minister (Cultural Affairs), Mantralaya, Mumbai,
9] Shrimant Chhatrapati Udayan Raje Bhosale, Hon’ble Member of Parliament,
10] Hon’ble Local Member of Legislative Assembly (through Director of Museums, Mumbai),
11] The Personal Assistant to the Principal Secretary (Cultural Affairs), Mantralaya, Mumbai,
12] The Department of Planning/Department of Finance, Mantralaya, Mumbai-32,
13] The Divisional Commissioner, Pune Division,
14] The Managing Director, Maharashtra State Tourism Development Corporation, Mumbai,
15] The District Collector, Satara,
16] The Chief Executive Officer, Zilla Parishad, Satara,
17] The Regional Director, Archaeological Survey of India,
18] The Deputy Secretary (San.Ka-3), Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Mantralaya, Mumbai,
19] The Superintendent Engineer, Public Works Department, Satara,
20] The Director, the Directorate of Museums, Mumbai,
21] Special Invitees/Experts (through Director, to Directorate of Museums, Maharashtra State, Mumbai),
22] The Assistant Director, Department of Archaeology, Pune,
23] The Accountant General-1, (Accounts & Entitlement), Maharashtra State, Mumbai,
24] The Accountant General-2, (Accounts & Entitlement), Maharashtra State, Nagpur,
25] The Accountant General-1 (Audit), Maharashtra State, Mumbai,
26] The Accountant General-2 (Audit), Maharashtra State, Nagpur,
27] The Resident Audit Officer, Mumbai,
28] The District Treasury Officer, Mumbai,
29] The Section Officer (Budget), Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Mantralaya, Mumbai,
30] Select File-SanKa-3.
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[Text Translated by Adv. Prakash Manohar Chalke
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