HC bans construction in Kuldhara
JODHPUR: The Rajasthan high court on Thursday banned any kind of construction activities in Kuldhara, a 200-year-old village of historical significance. The court has ordered the director, archeology and museums, government museums, Jaipur and the district collector, Jaisalmer to be personally present before court on February 22.
Petitioner Sunil Paliwal filed a PIL in the high court, saying that the ruins of Kuldhara village were being demolished under the guise of restoration. The petitioner told the court that there is a plan to start commercial activities in Kuldhara. “In the meanwhile and until further orders, no construction activity shall be carried out at the site,” a division bench of justice Sangeet Lodha and justice Dinesh Mehta said.
According to a folk lore, Pali- wal Brahmins, the natives of the village, departed overnight early 19th century without any trace. Before leaving their homes, the Paliwals had cursed that the village would remain forlorn and deserted for ever. The dilapidated Balaji temple, the family god of t he Paliwals, i s sti l l located amidst the ruins at the deserted site. Dry step wells commissioned in 1815 are among the structures that continue to stand. The state government has declared these monuments as protected under the Rajasthan Monuments, Archaeological Sites and Antiquities Act, 1961.
The state government had signed an agreement with a private company JSW foundation to develop facilities under the corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities for tourists at the site. According to the petition, the old ruins were demolished in the name of developing facilities for tourists and such activities are still going on.