Focus: Heritage sites finally get a facelift

The heritage sites in the Indian capital city are finally getting a facelift with the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (Intach) all set to conserve a vast number of unprotected monuments of historical and cultural importance.

Intach recently documented 1,208 buildings and 26 conservation areas in Delhi Chapter. About 300 of these are in the walled city, 166 with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and more than 500 with government departments, schools, embassies and private homes.

The listing by Intach has led to the departments concerned and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) to notify buildings coming under their jurisdiction.

Meanwhile, working in close cooperation with the Delhi Tour-ism and Transport Development Corporation (DTTDC), Intach in a new-found zeal has already conserved 26 monuments in Jamali Kamali Archaeological Park, Mehrauli.

The Jamali Kamali Mosque and tomb, lies 300 metres from the historical Qutub Minar and was built in memory of Jamali a poet-saint.

The tomb has two graves – one of Jamali and the other of an unidentified person called Kamali. The mosque dating back to 1528 still has its original gate. The prayer hall's ceilings and walls are highly ornamented with coloured tiles and patterns and inscriptions by Jamali.

According to O.P. Jain, convenor of Intach, Delhi Chapter, "It was felt that since each monument had its own relevance, the monuments in the vicinity of historical monuments be given equal importance." He felt that proper documentation was Intach's top priority for integration of these monuments, some of which were lying in ruins.

In the precincts of the Qutub complex is the Tomb of Aadam Khan, built by the Mughal emperor Akbar. The octagonal dome is also known as Bhul Bhulaiyan (maze) because a visitor can get lost in its labyrinthine passages. Another neglected monument – the Tomb of Mohammed Quli Khan has also been restored by Intach.

The restoration list also includes Jahaz Mahal, about 200 metres away from Qutub Minar. It served as a resort for pilgrims during the Lodhi period (before Mughals came to India in the early 16th century) and is situated beside a vast lake, acquiring its name due to its ship-like appearance.

A step-well, long since dried up has also been preserved and protected. According to an Intach official, "Work is still on at four other monuments in the vicinity and five are awaiting approval.

The other important historical sites around Qutub include the tombs of Muslim emperor Balban and Iltutmish, the son and successor of Qutubuddin Aibak, builder of Qutub Minar. Besides, there are step wells, mosques and other stone structures built during the Mughal era.

For the past many years several monuments of historical importance have been encroached upon, which makes restoration work difficult. However, in the recent past, Intach has also conserved St. James Church in Kashmiri Gate and a monument at Lado Serai. Incidentally, Intach's, work is limited to the conservation of the monument. Thereafter, maintenance is handled by the agency that funds the project.

Of late, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) have all geared up to notify monuments as protected. ASI is presently working on Red Fort and its environs. Its list also includes the Humayun Tomb and Purana Quila.

Surprisingly, out of the 1,208 monuments listed by Intach, the ASI has notified only 166. And it may sound incredible, but at least 12 monuments, called by ASI as protected, cannot be traced. These monuments exist only on paper.

The list mentions graveyards in Civil Lines, an enclosure wall and a tomb with three domes in Kotla Mubarakpur and inscriptions near Race Course Road. All these structures are untraceable now.

According to a conservationist, "The ASI's list needs to be updated at the earliest otherwise an integral part of history will be lost to posterity."

Also the encroachments need to be removed, he added, saying, "According to the ASI's laws no encroachment could take place within a 200-metre periphery of a heritage monument. But squatters abound in these places."

In fact, some of ASI-protected monuments are left uncared for, surrounded by illegal slums. These include Neela Gumbad near Humayun's Tomb, Beghumpura Mosque near Beghumpur and Khidki mosque near Malviya Nagar.

Interestingly, for visitors to Humayun's Tomb, a world heritage monument, the famous Nizamuddin Dargah will now be closer. According to Federal Minister for Tourism and Culture, Jagmohan, an underpass connecting the two sites will be undertaken by the Public Works Department under the supervision of ASI.

The shrine is an important pilgrimage for those travelling to Ajmer Sharif. According to popular belief, pilgrims must visit the Nizamuddin Dargah before going to Ajmer Sharif.

The first phase will begin with the cleaning of the water body in the Dargah, which is currently a pool of stagnating water. Encroachers around the complex use the place as a dumping ground.
Sometime ago, a fire in Lal Quan area in Delhi's walled city had claimed several lives.

It raised a furore about why redevelopment or maintenance of old areas never takes place. It brought the spotlight back on Delhi's priceless treasures that have evolved over the centuries.

But the city with its bevy of heritage buildings spanning thousands of years has been considered the most neglected with the biggest hurdle being the multiplicity of authorities in the metropolis that includes the MCD, the Delhi Development Authority and the Central Public Works Department.

Apart from the difficulty of hold any one body accountable, tenancy problems and landlords who are not interested in preserving certain structures are the other problems facing restorers.