INTACH given Rs 3 cr to preserve 16 monuments
The Delhi Government has sanctioned Rs 3 crore to INTACH for protection of 16 monuments in the Capital, which are in a dilapidated conditiaon and have been encroached upon. The money for the much-delayed project has already been sanctioned and work is in progress at six sites. There are about 172 monuments of national and international importance in the city. There are 600 other known and ‘not-so-known’ monuments, which are under the supervision of the State Archaeology. The condition of these 600-odd monuments is in a bad shape as the department has been unable to conserve them due to paucity of funds.
Top sources told The Pioneer that Delhi Government has sanctioned about Rs 3 crore for the protection and conservation of other projects. In the first phase, the Archaeology Department and the INTACH started work on six monuments — Baoli in Dwarka, Baradari in Sadhna Enclave, Mosques and Water Channel in Vasant Vihar, Tomb in Greater Kailash (I), Tomb in Sadhna Enclave and one Jharna. “The work on these monuments is now almost complete,” sources said.
In October 2008, The Delhi Government had invited INTACH to conceptualise and execute the project for protection and conservation of 92 unprotected monuments. The two had signed a MoU for a period of three years. After completion of the topographical survey and conservation statement in Phase I of the project, 14 monuments were selected on route of the CWG, 2010. It was the Union Tourism Ministry which sanctioned money for the conservation of these monuments.
In the next phase, the conservation will begin on the gateways of Sarais in Badarpur, Imambara at Qutub Road, lodhi Tomb in Mehrauli, North Guard House in Northern Ridge, South Guard House in Northern Ridge, Tomb in Gautam Nagar, Tomb in Katwaria Sarai, Tomb in Chaumachi Khas, Tomb at Qutub Road and Tomb with enclosure wall in Mehrauli. “We will first take up conservation of four monuments. Once we are through with these, we will start work on the remaining projects,” informed sources.