A year on, no plan to conserve Mehrauli park structures yet
NEW DELHI: A comprehensive management plan f or the improvement and conservation of ancient structures at the Mehrauli Archaeological Park in south Delhi is yet to be prepared even a year after the Delhi High Court’s orders.
The court directions had come on a public interest litigation filed in 2015 by culture body the Indian National Trust for Art and Culture (INTACH), seeking its proper maintenance and preservation.
In its order dated May 17, 2017, the bench hearing the petition had directed setting up of a committee of all stakeholders— the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Delhi Development Authority (DDA), State Archaeology Department (SAD), South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC), Revenue Department, Delhi Wakf Board (DWB), and the Delhi Jal Board (DJB)— to take appropriate steps to fence the entire area, clear encroachments and formulate a comprehensive management plan within two months.
In August last year, Delhi Lieutenant Governor (L-G) Anil Baijal had also inspected the park and directed DDA to set up a coordinating body for the upkeep of all monuments.
The L-G’S office had made similar attempts in February 2014. Detailed discussions were held to identify disintegrating monuments, their stage-wise conservation, measures to secure them, and the timeline for conservation of structures. But all attempts could not change the fortune of the site.
Officials, who are familiar with the development, blamed involvement of multiple agencies for the stalemate.
“Demarcation of land is to be done by the DDA and revenue department of the Delhi government while monuments’ upkeep is with the ASI, archaeology department, or DWB,” said a senior official of the DDA.
The park, next to the world heritage site Qutab Minar, is
spread over 200 acres.
“As the land belongs to DDA, it is its responsibility to prepare a comprehensive plan. Demarcation was supposed to be done by the DDA with revenue department. We are holding meetings because of the court order,” said a senior official of ASI, who is not authorised to talk to the media. “We have installed gates and encroachments have been removed,” said Shripal, principal commission (horticulture), DDA.
During a recent hearing on May 9, the bench of Justices S Ravindra Bhat and AK Chawla took cognisance of the delay and asked all agencies to carry out a joint survey and implement its earlier directions. The court demanded the report in four months.
Vikas Maloo, head of the archaeology department, said the survey had started but the process would take time as the park is huge. “Three rounds of meeting have taken place. DDA is doing its work and we are conserving our monuments,” he said.
Ajay Kumar, project director, INTACH said the city will lose this important place if it is not conserved. “As it located next to the world heritage site, we can do wonders here,” he said.