Renovation work to preserve heritage police station begins in Tarn Taran
Our Correspondent
Tarn Taran, July 9
The Punjab Police have started the renovation work of the dilapidated building of the city police station to preserve its heritage. The work has been started on a war footing. Baba Jagtar Singh of the Kar Sewa sect too was extending a helping hand to the cause.
The work has to be done by the Punjab Police Housing Corporation. A sum of Rs 2 crore had been sanctioned for the work by the DGP, Punjab, and Rs 35 lakh had been received by the district police for the same.
It was the only such old building with a monument status built about 150 years ago in Tarn Taran by the British Government. The building of Sri Darbar Sahib, Tarn Taran, was an exception.
The district police claiming to collect information regarding the building from different sources revealed that it was among the eight buildings built in Amritsar and Lahore in 1942 by the British Government. The railway station and the main post office in Amritsar were included in the eight buildings.
SSP Dhruman H Nimbale said as the old architect-designed Nanakshahi bricks was used in the construction, these would be preserved while renovating the building without dismantling it.
The district police were taking the services of archaeologists for the work to preserve its heritage. The main wooden gate of the police station too was the symbol of rich heritage. Many rooms of the building were made with wood of superior quality which was not easily available in market nowadays.
Earlier, the offices of the Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Revenue, Treasury, besides the police station were functioning from the building. The police station had temporarily been shifted from here to the old bus stand due to the unsafe building.
The SSP said the office of the local DSP too would start functioning from the building and every possible facility would be provided for visitors. Saplings will be planted in courtyards.
The police are taking the services of experts of Punjab Agriculture University (PAU) to install the rainwater harvesting system. After the renovation work, the building will become a favourite spot for heritage lovers.
