Vadodara: The 136-year-old iconic double dome structure for which M S University is known worldwide and acts as a landmark for Vadodara has been damaged putting country’s premier conservation agency – the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) - in the dock.Designed by British architect R F Chisholm, Asia’s second largest masonry dome that is modelled after the one at Gol Gumbaz in Bijapur, was gifted by the visionary ruler Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III to Baroda state during his reign in 1881.MSU on Saturday submitted an application at Sayajigunj police station seeking to register a complaint of criminal negligence against the ASI, which was entrusted the job of restoring the heritage structure.The application submitted by MSU’s in-charge registrar N K Ojha said that ASI’s Vadodara circle was entrusted the work of restoration, preservation, conservation and retrofitting of arts faculty dome structure for which it was paid Rs 2.31 crore in July 2016 as deposit.“ASI, Vadodara has done irreparable damage by drilling holes into the walls of the main dome and the subsidiary dome while erecting external shuttering and scaffolding at the site,” the application submitted by the university said.Terming the act as highly irresponsible, unprofessional and criminal negligence, the application stated police should register a complaint against the ASI superintending archaeologist of Vadodara circle, whose team had caused damage to heritage and prestigious structure.In a letter addressed to ASI, the university blamed ASI for not starting restoration work for two years, between 2016 and 2018, despite regular and repeated reminders.“Now when you have started work, you have punctured the envelope of the historic dome and subsidiary dome at multiple locations while erecting scaffolding,” the letter read.“We are also approaching ASI’s director general to repair the damage done by expert other than you (those involved by ASI, Vadodara) under strict supervision of university at the risk and cost of ASI,” the university’s missive to ASI said, demanding Rs 2.31 crore back from the central agency with interest.A step further, the university has demanded strict action against all concerned officials of ASI. “Suspension is no punishment. We want termination of job of all concerned,” the letter read.Gujarat head of ASI however told TOI that the agency had stopped the work immediately after it was brought to its notice.“On Friday evening, I also had a discussion with MSU’s in-charge registrar and we had agreed that we will conduct a joint inspection to thoroughly examine the structure. We had also agreed that any damage will be rectified,” said Anil Tiwari, ASI Vadodara circle superintending archaeologist. “This is a matter between two public institutions and it can be resolved amicably. Now, if they have proceeded for the police complaint, let the police investigate the matter,” he said

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