NEW DELHI: In what the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) believes is a serious blow to Delhi's heritage, the first Islamic tomb in India -- Sultan Garhi -- will soon have a residential complex as its neighbour. With the Army planning to build quarters for married officers close to it, this 13th Century tomb will never be the same again.

For its part, the ASI has pushed back the construction to 300 metres from the monument, but that is not a victory, it believes. "It is important to look beyond just the building. The original setting of the building also has to be kept in mind. If this project goes through, then the whole atmosphere and environment of the monument will be ruined forever. The ASI has the powers only to control 300 metres around the monument legally. But for such a significant site, this is really not enough,'' an ASI official lamented.

While the land was originally allotted to the Airports Authority of India (AAI) by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), it was later handed over to the Army in 2004 in exchange for land that the AAI took from it closer to the airport.

Barring a few pre-Sultanate monuments in the Kutch area, Sultan Garhi is the first monumental tomb among Islamic tombs in the country. A golden tomb because of the colour of stone used, it was probably built by Illtutmish-- the founder of the slave dynasty-- for his eldest son Nasiruddin Mahmud. Sultan Garhi has been graded Archaeological Value A in the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH)'s "Delhi: The Built Heritage'' that the DDA acknowledges.

A significant site, the area around the monument is being developed by the DDA as a green zone as its bit to protect heritage, but no eyebrows seem to have been raised by it at this "disastrous" construction

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