Restoration work of historic sites moving at a snail’s pace
THE DEADLINE FOR THE ₹86 CR RESTORATION PROJECT IN AMRITSAR WAS JUNE 2018, AND LATER EXTENDED TO NOVEMBER 2018, THEN MARCH 2019 AND THEN AUGUST 2019
AMRITSAR: Restoration work of historic sites in Amritsar, under the Centre’s Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY) project, is moving forward at snail’s pace and has missed several deadlines owing to the apathy of Amritsar civic body
The deadline for the ₹86 crore project in Amritsar was June 2018, and later extended to November 2018, March 2019 and August 2019.
DELAYED PROJECTS
The restoration work of the six historic gates which started in January at a cost of ₹5 crore, is yet to be completed. Plans were made to open children’s community libraries at the gates.
Even the revamping of Chaali Khooh (40 wells), a historic waterworks project, was to be completed by September. An interpretation centre, a cafeteria and a recreation centre are being built at the site at a cost of ₹ 4.7 crore. Landscaping of the British-era hydro-electricity power house near Upper Bari Doab Canal will need more funds to be completed. Similarly, the library, to be named after Bhai Ram Singh, the 19th century architect, was to open in June at the Old DC building (150-year-old British-era architectural heritage building), but the work is not complete. Besides all this, the Public arts project is waiting for an MOU to be signed between MC and Punjab Lalit Kala Akademi.
“98% of gates’ work is complete and MC has to give its maintenance to NGOS. The Chaali Khooh project is being delayed because of MC, as the place has no sewerage lines and they are not laying the sewerage pipes despite several requests. The HRIDAY project can only be concluded when MC will operate and maintain it”, said Gurmeet Rai, anchor of the Amritsar project and a well-known conservation architect.
Most restored historic buildings lie unattended with no effort to maintain or promote these tourist sites. The Gol Bagh Garden, which was landscaped at a cost of ₹ 5 crore, is now home to stray dogs. The defunct fountains are filled with garbage. The dirty complex lacks drinking water and toilet facilities.