Deviations in Rajghat’s site plan, HC informed

◗ The Delhi high court was informed on Tuesday that some alterations might have been done in Mahatma Gandhi’s memorial at Rajghat, giving rise to maintenance issues

New Delhi, March 6: The Delhi high court was informed on Tuesday that some alterations might have been done in Mahatma Gandhi’s memorial at Rajghat, giving rise to maintenance issues.

An inspecting panel, comprising the CEO of Agha Khan Foundation and officials of the authorities concerned, told the court that possibly some changes have been brought at the memorial later and that material of inferior quality was used to construct the pathways.

A bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C. Hari Shankar asked the Central Public Works Department ( CPWD) to give the original site plan of Rajghat to the foundation’s CEO Ratish Nanda who would examine it and submit a report after further inspecting the place.

The bench, which listed the matter for April 3, said he would mention in his report about the entire exercise which needed to be undertaken to maintain the pristine glory of the “samadhi” and other regular steps.

The foundation, which is into restoration of several historical sites of national importance, has also pointed out that the memorial was in a reasonable condition but certain steps needed to be taken for which the original plan of the memorial was required.

During the hearing, Nipun Malhotra, on whose plea the court had earlier ordered a disability audit of government buildings in the national capital, also submitted his report on the disability audit conducted by him at Rajghat.

Regarding the place being disabled- friendly, he said 90 per cent of the area was in good shape and it was one of the best places to visit in Delhi but the bus stand outside it needed to be fixed. He also gave several recommendations which would be examined by the CPWD engineer.