PUNE: Sinhagad fort will remain out of bounds for revelers for one more week as the work of clearing landslide debris on the road leading to the fort is not been complete yet.The landslide had occurred on July 13, following which the authorities had to stop vehicular movement towards the fort to avoid any untoward incident.Officials from the forest department said heavy rainfall and adverse weather conditions were posing a huge challenge to clear the debris. “We had to stop the work due to the adverse weather conditions and heavy rainfall for the last two days. The use of earth movers resulted in loose boulders falling onto the road. We will need at least one more week to complete the work,” assistant conservator of forest (Pune) Mahesh Bhavsar told TOI.As many as 30 staffers and labourers have been deployed at the site for clearing the debris. They had to spend considerable time in breaking big boulders before transporting them from the site. The cleared material is being dumped on an open area about 3km away from the site.The department is planning to use a crane to expedite the work. The fort, which has got its historical importance, has become a favourite tourist destination for citizens. Large number of trekkers and joggers also visit the fort.“Even after clearing the debris, we feel that the road should not be opened for vehicular traffic, considering the precarious condition of the ghat section. We will first inspect the stretch to identify vulnerable spots. However, this exercise can only be done after the monsoon,” another forest official said.There is no restriction on trekking activity as of now. The entry fee to Sinhagad fort generates around Rs 12 lakh revenue annually.Two years ago, the public works department had conducted a survey of the ghat section and based on expert advise, rock fall protection nets were installed at two places. Recently, the forest department paid Rs 1.5 crore to the PWD to carry out required infrastructure work on the fort and the section.

Stay updated with all the Pune Latest News headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.