800-year-old structure under threat

But as apex agencies such as the MCD,Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and HCC pass the buck over preservation of the 13th Century monument,Newsline found a family still living in its premises,and carrying out construction — mostly at night.

The HCC had formed a sub-committee to inspect the monument following the Parliamentary committee’s report on the state of transport,tourism and culture,released in February. The report said though Lal Mahal is listed as a heritage structure by the MCD,INTACH and the Delhi government,the municipality has not notified this list.

The committee’s members ‘inspected’ the site last month and reported the area “sealed”. But a member of the committee told Newsline that during inspection its members merely walked around the monument and “did not dare ask anyone for the way in”,for the plot’s owners run a “land racket”.

Even conservationists and government officials have avoided visiting the site. The member,who wished for anonymity,said,“There was no police force to accompany us,and there were many goons ready to shoo away anyone who came close to the site.”

On visiting the site,Newsline found a family living in the premises despite a police barricade blocking the entrance from the Nizamuddin Dargah side. On asking the way in,a couple of men from a nearby tea stall threatened the Newsline team if there were more questions. “It will be better if you leave,” the men said before ‘escorting’ us out of the locality.

Heritage conservationists working in the area have also complained that construction work is carried out on the sly at night.

What MCD says

Municipal officials said owners of the plot claim to be living there for decades. “Since the monument is not notified,we cannot ask the owners to leave,” MCD Deputy Commissioner Vijay Singh said. “We had earlier issued them a showcause notice for carrying out illegal construction on the plot and they had in turn given us in writing that they will file a proposal before making any alterations in the building.”

Singh said the ASI should take up Lal Mahal’s preservation since it “knows” about what is going on,and also because the structure comes under the prohibited area of centrally protected monument of Bara Khamba. “Therefore it is the ASI’s responsibility,” he said,“but we can look into the issue even if the HCC or the Department of Archaeology sends us a request to initiate notification.”

A senior ASI official,though,said it is extremely difficult for the organisation to take up the monument’s protection. “We are already under an infrastructure crunch and are unable to manage the existing 174 protected monuments,” the official said. “It is not possible to take up more,though we realise that there are many monuments that need to be protected.”

Heritage conservationists say only outer buildings have been demolished,and they can be reconstructed if land is acquired.

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