CSMC, Intach sign MoU to set up scientific lab for conserving historical artefacts

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:

The city will now have the facility to scientifically conserve old artefacts, manuscripts, and paintings. On Saturday (February 7), a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (Intach) and the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Municipal Corporation (CSMC) to establish a conservation laboratory within the premises of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Museum.

Marathwada is home to thousands of historical objects, paintings, manuscripts, and ancient texts. However, the lack of proper scientific conservation facilities has put many of these treasures at risk. Recognising this need, the Intach and the CSMC signed an MoU to set up a scientific conservation laboratory for these treasures.

Intach currently operates five conservation laboratories across India. This will be the first such lab in Maharashtra, located in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. In a meeting last week, the proposed lab’s design, operational plan, and future phases were discussed in detail.

The meeting was attended by MP Dr Bhagwat Karad, to-be mayor Sameer Rajurkar, Intach’s national president Ashok Singh Thakur, Maharashtra state convenor Mukund Bhogle, museum’s honorary director Shriprakash Purwar, and other Intach members.

The agreement was finalised on Saturday, with municipal commissioner G Sreekanth and Intach Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar chapter convenor, senior architect Maya Vaidya, signing the MoU. Also present were co-convenor Adv. Swapnil Joshi, architect Sneha Bakshi, and executive committee members Aditya Waghmare, Amit Deshpande, and Bageshri Desai.

The municipal commissioner G Sreekanth said,"We are the only municipal corporation in the state running a historical museum. This laboratory will serve not only the local area but the entire Marathwada as a centre for heritage conservation."

"Since scientific conservation of historical artefacts, sculptures, documents, and archaeological relics will now be possible locally, this laboratory will be extremely useful. Under the guidance of Intach conservation experts, anyone in the future will be able to conserve their manuscripts or ancient objects here," said Intach’s convenor Maya Vaidya.