Delhi: Fight to reclaim monuments goes on

Delhi: Despite ongoing efforts, only two centrally protected monuments in Delhi have been cleared of encroachments, while eight others remain under illegal occupation and unauthorised construction, according to an official from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

“Monuments like Barapullah Bridge and Tughlaqabad Fort have recently been freed from illegal encroachments,” the ASI official told Patriot.

In August last year, Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena announced that the Barapullah Bridge — a Mughal-era structure located in Nizamuddin — had been handed over to the ASI for restoration. During his inspection, the bridge was found to be heavily encroached upon. This triggered an anti-encroachment drive.

The 400-year-old structure had deteriorated into a dumping ground for debris and garbage from nearby areas, ASI officials noted.

Tughlaqabad Fort — a sprawling 14th-century fortress — has similarly been the site of multiple demolition drives following directions from the Delhi High Court. According to reports, the operation led to the demolition of over 1,000 structures and the displacement of an estimated 2.5 lakh residents.

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Notices, demolitions, and legal hurdles

A Right to Information (RTI) query filed by Patriot in April revealed that nine centrally protected monuments in the capital have suffered encroachments. Many of them are now surrounded by illegal settlements, shops, and construction debris.

The affected monuments include Tughlaqabad Fort, Begumpuri Masjid, Atgah Khan’s Tomb, Rajpur (Mutiny) Cemetery, Old Rajpur Cantonment (North District), D’Eremao Cemetery, Kisanganj, Joga Bai Mound, Sarai Shahji, Kashmiri Gate and Kotla Feroz Shah.

These sites are legally protected under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (AMASR) Act, 2010, which strictly prohibits construction within 100 metres of a protected monument and regulates all activities within a 200-metre buffer zone. Despite this, enforcement has remained weak.

“We are constantly working to reclaim and preserve what remains,” said an ASI official from the Delhi circle, speaking on condition of anonymity. He added that they had been taking regular action by issuing notices and demolishing unauthorised structures.

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In a separate RTI reply to Patriot in February, ASI stated that 5,360 show-cause notices had been issued in Delhi to individuals and entities engaged in construction, repairs, or other unauthorised activities within prohibited zones.