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MCD, INTACH at loggerheads

Sandeep Joshi

Conservation of a grand old building in the by-lanes of Delhi's Chandni Chowk

HISTORIC HAVELI: `Sheesh Mahal' used to be the first premises of St. Stephen's College a century ago.

NEW DELHI: The Heritage Society of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and the non-government organisation, Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), are at loggerheads over the civic body's pilot project for conservation of Sheesh Mahal, a heritage building located in the by-lanes of Chandni Chowk in the Walled City of Delhi.

Sheesh Mahal happens to be the historic building in Katra Khushal Rai from where one of India's most prestigious educational institutions -- St. Stephen's College -- started functioning over a century ago with five students and three teachers. And even as the oldest college in the Capital is now celebrating 125 years of its existence, MCD is yet to start the conservation project of the heritage building as INTACH is yet to submit its "conservancy report".

About six months ago MCD's Heritage Society paid INTACH Rs.2 lakhs in advance for preparing the "conservancy report" which is necessary before taking up conservation and preservation of any heritage building. The conservancy report not only describes the historical importance of a heritage building but also identifies the problems and challenges that are likely to come in the way of its conservation and preservation. Besides giving an estimate of the money required for the restoration process, the report also suggests how the conservation process needs to be carried out so that the old glory of the building could be properly restored.

However, the civic body's Heritage Society, that was constituted after disbanding the Heritage Cell and was given more financial and decision-making powers, is sore over INTACH's "unprofessional approach" in the entire issue alleging that after taking the money, they have failed to give the report and were not even responding to their letters and calls. "Restoration of Sheesh Mahal is not merely a pilot project, it is a major test for us. We want to complete its conservation process at the earliest so that work could begin in other monuments and heritage buildings also," said a senior Heritage Society official.

"The conservancy report should have been prepared within one month, but more than six months have passed and we have still not got the report. The civic body wants to complete restoration and preservation of all its heritage buildings before the start of the Commonwealth Games in 2010. But with a professional body like INTACH failing to fulfil its commitment despite getting full payment, we cannot proceed further in our endeavour," rued the official.

When contacted, a senior INTACH official said the delay was due to the residents who have occupied some portions of the building, making it very difficult for them to properly survey the entire building.

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