Chhota Imambada awaits repairs as HAT-ASI blame game continues
LUCKNOW: The city’s iconic Chhota Imambada lies in neglect, as the agencies responsible for its maintenance -- the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the Hussainabad and Allied Trust (HAT) -- keep passing the buck to each other regarding the much needed restoration work at 179-year-old structure.
Around three years ago, the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court had held Chhota Imambada’s custodian, HAT, accountable for causing “irreversible damage” to the edifice by carrying out re-plastering work using cement instead of the permitted ‘surkhi’ and lime.
The court had ordered immediate discontinuation of the work, and had also directed the ASI’s Lucknow circle to assess the damage caused to the monument.
The ASI was also instructed to undertake the restoration.
The order was in outcome of the PIL moved by city-based heritage activist S Mohammed Haider in 2013, calling for placing restraints on the use of cement in the restoration being carried out by the HAT at the Chhota Imambada.
“It’s been over three years, but the (restoration) work is at a standstill. Neither ASI nor HAT seem interested in initiating the corrective action,” said Haider, adding that “unnecessary delay” was impacting the structure’s aesthetics. “The cemented patch
› It’s been over three years, but the (restoration) work is at a standstill. Neither ASI nor HAT seem interested in initiating the corrective action.
S MOHAMMED HAIDER, heritage activist
in the front is certainly not to the liking of the tourists and the pilgrims,” he said.
Meanwhile, the HAT officials blamed the ASI for not taking any steps to maintain the Chhota Imambada -- a centrally protected structure.
Nasir Naqvi, officer on special duty at HAT, said, “As per the court’s order, ASI has to ensure the restoration of Chhota Imambada, but it is yet to be followed.”
ASI officials, on the other hand, accused the HAT of causing irreparable damage to the monument by using cement.
Officials said that acting on the court’s order, the ASI had carried out a series of inspections at the Chhota Imambada and concluded that the cement plaster had caused “irreversible damage” to the structure.
As the blame game continues, the effect of the cement plastering on the building’s exterior has started showing on the interiors too. Experts said the interiors, which used to be the finest among Imambadas, were now in a shabby state, with the paint and plastering peeling off in places.