Vadodara: Not one , two and not even a dozen. The 136-year-old iconic dome that acts as a landmark for both M S University and Vadodara has been punctured at 110 spots! And shockingly, the central dome which is Asia’s second largest masonry dome that stands tall over the Faculty of Arts building, itself has been holed at over 80 spots. The number of punctures on this heritage building that was designed in Indo-Saracenic style architecture by British architect Robert Chisholm and gifted to Baroda state by its visionary ruler Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III itself reveals the carelessness with which personnel of country’s premier conservation agency – the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) – handled the job entrusted to it by MSU.On Monday, ASI team led by Gujarat head Anil Tiwari along with MSU officials conducted on-site assessment of the damage that has been caused to the heritage building as the contract labourers have punctured the envelope of the historic dome at multiple locations while erecting scaffolding even before the actual restoration project can be started.This exercise revealed that while the 144-feet high central dome which is a double dome structure with inner and outer domes has been punctured at over 80 spots, there are 30 holes that have been drilled over the two smaller domes surrounding this central dome.The central dome and eight smaller domes cover 35,000 square feet area above the ‘E’ shaped arts faculty building. Thankfully, six smaller domes have been left untouched.“ASI has agreed that they will sent senior conservationists from Delhi to assess the damage to the heritage structure. The team will come this week. The decision on how to seal the holes will be taken after their visit,” said MSU’s in-charge registrar N K Ojha, after the meeting that was held at arts faculty dean’s office.The university last week had already submitted an application to Sayajigunj police to register a FIR against the ASI for the criminal negligence.“There are different materials available. We will be using materials whose strength is more than the brick wall of the dome so that it does not get weaken and it remains leak proof,” said Ojha, adding that ASI will have to bear the expenses for carrying out the repair works.With focus now shifting to plugging the holes instead of the actual project of restoring the dome that was supposed to start in 2016, conservation project will get delayed further. The university had already submitted Rs 2.31 crore to the central agency for the project.“We have still not decided whether ASI should continue handling the project or we should hire some other agency or carry out the conservation project by our own through our construction division,” said Ojha, adding that the final decision will be taken in consultation with MSU vice-chancellor.ASI Vadodara circle superintending archaeologist Anil Tiwari told TOI that he has already submitted a report to ASI’s top brass – the director general.Tiwari also expressed confidence that the dome will be repaired. “There is nothing that is irreparable and there is enough expertise available to get things corrected,” he said. But the Gujarat chief of ASI did not comment on who should be blamed for the damage that has already been done to the heritage structure.Times ViewThe negligence on the part of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in handling restoration work of MSU’s iconic dome is clearly evident by the sheer number of holes that have been drilled. Even after the carelessness came to the notice, there is no clear statement made by the ASI explaining what actually went wrong with the conservation project. For its own repute, country’s premier conservation agency needs to clarify its stand, take moral responsibility and action against all those responsible for the damage that has been done.

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