NGO wants ASI to take over summer palace

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, March 5

Amritsar Vikas Manch (AVM), an NGO, has urged the Punjab Government to hand over the historic Rambagh garden- the summer palace of the legendary Sikh ruler Maharaja Ranjit Singh – to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

The summer palace was declared a protected monument by the Government of India in 2004. However, even after the notification, it was never fully handed over the ASI. At present, the ASI is in possession of the garden and is carrying out conservation work only at the entrance, four watch towers, Hamamghar, Small Baradari and Machhighar. The remaining structures, including the main summer palace, are under the possession of the Punjab Cultural and Tourism Department.

The department was entrusted with the conservation of these structures in 2007. However, the work remained suspended for a couple of years due to want of funds from the Punjab government. This adversely affected the preservation work.

The tussle between the ASI and the Tourism Department over the possession of this immensely significant historic structure has adversely affected its maintenance. The ASI had even questioned the shoddy work done by the contractors employed by the Tourism Department for the restoration of the monument.

The unabated construction work of laying interlocking tiles and footpaths and parking areas in violation of the norms had irked the ASI as it vandalises the heritage character of the protected monument.

Dr Charanjit Singh Gumtala, pointed out that the recent move for the construction of parking for Urban Haat visitors would further harm the heritage character and that the government should construct the parking in the Urban Haat area itself. He was of the opinion that the historic structure should be handed over to the ASI for its better preservation and the authorities should be discouraged against taking up any construction on the premises of the monument.

He also urged the SAD leaders who claimed themselves to be Panthic to come forward and ask the Punjab government to hand over the same to the ASI.