High court raps Archaeological Survey of India for 'lame excuses' for monument neglect

LUCKNOW: High court has rapped the Archaeological Survey of India for making lame excuses pertaining to the repair of gates of Chhota Imambara that are getting damaged because of neglect. Responding to a public interest litigation by SMH Rizvi, a bench comprising Justice Imtiyaz Murtaza and Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya noted that some portion of gate of Chhota Immambara had recently fallen and for repair of the same an application had been presented to the local unit of ASI but the officers made lame excuses saying that they have been entrusted with protection of monuments and not the gate."We fail to understand any such stand of ASI, said the court, putting up the case for next hearing on May 12, 2014.
In the vicinity of Rumi Darwaza, the white gates of Chhota Imambara in Hussainabad are a quintessence of Islamic calligraphy. This entrance to the monument that houses the mausoleum of Mohammad Ali Shah is a victim of neglect. Encroachments, vehicular movements and poor maintenance by its custodian, the Hussainabad and Allied Trust (HAT) has left its gates to crumble. Heritage activists have filed public interest litigation to demand restoration of the gates.
"Apathetic neglect by the caretaker HAT and neglect by ASI which protects a part of the monument has pushed the building to slow death," said Rizvi, the litigant.
When contacted, ASI officials refused to comment. Superintending archaeologist P K Mishra said "the matter is pending in court and we can't speak out of turn." Sources in ASI, however, informed that they are responsible only for the mausoleum of Mohammad Ali Shah and the gate was the responsibility of HAT.
Yet, ASI Lucknow has sought directions from head office in this regard. A proposal for restoration of the gates has also been forwarded to the director general ASI.
"The Hussainabad Trust is ready to undertake all expenses incurred in restoration of the portion destroyed, but until the ASI, technical experts taking up the cause will not improve the situation," said S P Shahi, ADM (West), who is secretary of the trust.