Highlighting the need to keep heritage structures and its surrounding areas clean and hygenic, a day-long mass clean drive involving more than a thousand volunteers, including students, social activists, and residents, was kickstarted on Thursday inside the 16th century granite fort complex, which includes a British era spacious lush garden.

Officials of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), which organised the drive as part of Swachh Bharat Mission, said that the drive is aimed to inculcate the habit of cleanliness, especially at heritage sites and historical monuments to conserve them for future generations. Majority of participants in the drive are students,” K. Prasath, Horticulture Officer, ASI (Vellore), told The Hindu.

Accompanied by Mayor Sujatha Anandakumar, Sushanta Kumar Kar, Superintendent Archeologist (SA), ASI (Chennai Circle), and K. Saravanan, curator, Vellore Government Museum, Collector V.R. Subbulaxmi flagged-off the drive inside the fort. “The drive also provides an opportunity to understand the historical importance of the fort, which has a massive garden around it. The fort garden is a major greenery available within Vellore Corporation limits,” said S. Priya, a participant.

At present, the ASI maintains the fort that comprises 58 colonial buildings, a mosque and a Vijayanagar-era temple. Spread over 32 acres, the lush garden covers the eastern and southern part of the fort. The garden, surrounded by the moat, is open from 6 a.m. – 6 p.m. on all days, including Sundays, at free of cost.

On an average, the garden gets around 6,000 footfalls, and more during weekends and holidays. It got its limelight when Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a public meeting there as part of BJP’s poll campaign for 2024 Lok Sabha elections. 

The garden is dotted with native tree species like neem, banyan, peepal, tamarind and fruit bearing trees to provide much shade for visitors. Floor of the garden is planted with buffalo grass to provide much cushion for users, especially children when they play on it. Such grass has more durability and can grow in arid regions with less water consumption.

Volunteers also walked along the 3-km-long parapet wall of the fort, a protected monument, to remove the thick vegetation on it. The wall is around 130 feet high and five metres wide. The wall has three ramps, made of brick and mortar by the British, covering the southern and western part of the fort. Every day, around 200-300 visitors take a stroll on the walking area of the wall as part of physical exercise and to get a glimpse of the town.