Following a Supreme Court order in 2007, a comprehensive conservation management plan (CCMP) was prepared for the 17th-century citadel. Almost seven years down the line, progress has been patchy. Officials say the project has hit several obstacles, most notably the lack of clarity on the conservation needs of various heritage buildings within the fort. The plan identified five buildings—Lahore Gate, Chhatta Chowk, Naubat Khana, Diwan-i-Aam and Rang Mahalfor immediate conservation and utilization of open space along the central axis. But without any direction, conservation relied on periodic assessments. In some cases like the Naubat Khana, restoration of one side of the facade , turning it white from red, stirred controversy. This forced a rethink by ASI. Buildings like Jahaz Mahal, baoli and Diwan-i-Aam , have a decaying facade , overgrown vegetation minus the decorative plasterwork.
Other monuments in the main central axis have been in various stages of decay, with each being taken up every few years. In the last five years, there have been at least four officers in charge of Delhi circle , each with their own priorities and vision. As a result, some monuments have been attended to every few years and others ignored for long periods.
A senior official argued that work was taken up at monuments as per inspection and requirements, but sources said the absence of a planned approach harmed the site. The CAG report of 2013 points out that in the last five years, the total expenditure incurred for preservation and conservation was Rs 15.77 crore, as per the CCMP plan deemed "not practical" by ASI in the report. At present, ASI is busy with chemical cleaning work at Khas Mahal and repairs at Rang Mahal, where a portion of the chajja collapsed earlier this month. At Diwan-i-Aam , cracks have appeared in the facade and conservation will begin here soon.
Gurmeet Rai, whose organization prepared the CCMP, denied any role in implementation of the plan, nor had they ever been consulted. "The CCMP has an assessment and phasing schedule for the site to be implemented over 10 years. ASI has clearly not followed the schedule laid out. The plan stressed that the central axis should be taken up first and then the colonial barracks towards the end. Buildings are prioritized as per significance and extent of decay. But the barracks were conserved first, while work on the central axis is still going on,'' she said.
Visitor amenities are not up to the mark. The 120-acre fort is still to get a cafeteria or an interpretation centre as recommended by Unesco for all world heritage sites. Plans for battery-run golf carts from the parking to the fort are still being discussed. The shifting of cramped museums in Mumtaz Mahal and the Indian War Memorial Museum into the restored British barracks B1 and B2 has been pending for years despite the ASI spending lakhs on barrack restoration.
The visitor circulation plan has been stuck for four years. Except for a few plaques detailing the monuments' history , visitors are left to their own devices. Historians say the original Mughal pathway ran around the forecourt and connected Diwan-i-Aam to Naubat Khana, but it was knocked down by the British. "They created a pathway cutting across what was originally Diwan-i-Aam's forecourt , though it was not in line with the original architecture,'' said a historian.
Once the plan is implemented, arrow markers will be put up at important points to guide visitors, who will enter from Lahore Gate, go to Naubat Khana, Diwan-i-Aam , turn left towards the hamam, Diwan-i-Khas , Rang Mahal, Mumtaz Mahal museum and then exit from Lahore Gate. Though the initial deadline was the 2010 Commonwealth Games, it can take many more months. The ASI aims to finish it by the year-end .
ASI director general Pravin Srivastava admitted there were some technical issues, and that public-private partnership hadn't been ruled out. He said CCMP should have been implemented systematically . Superintending archaeologist Vasant Kumar Swarnkar cited manpower shortage. "We are responsible for hundreds of sites. The manpower employed at Humayun's Tomb by AKTC is something we can't match," he said.
THE FORT'S SIGNIFICANCE
During Mughal days, visiting nobles and the public would enter the Red Fort from the western or Lahore gate, from the ramparts of which the PM addresses the nation each year on I-Day.
The inspiration for Meena Bazar came from the covered bazaars in Persia. It is said that Shah Jahan visited one such covered bazaar in Peshawar.
The Diwan-e-Aam was originally enclosed within an arcaded court destroyed after large-scale demolitions in the aftermath of the 1857 uprising, but the foundations of which survive till today.
The Diwan-e-Khas or the 'hall of private audience' of the emperor has been described as the finest building in the Red Fort. This is where the emperor held his special audiences with his most trusted courtiers and this is where he received his most important guests, sitting on the famed peacock throne.
The Naubat Khana was a place where drums were played to announce the arrival of special guests to the emperor.
STATUS OF CONSERVATION
Visitor circulation plan has been stuck for four years.
Amenities like interpretation centre, battery golf carts and toilet blocks still in planning stage.
Shifting of museums of Mumtaz Mahal and Indian war memorial into restored British barracks B1 and B2 yet to be done.
Controversial restoration of Naubat Khana to be 'reassessed'.
No fixed approach to implementing comprehensive conservation plan. Monuments within the fort conserved on the basis of need.
Chemical cleaning of marbles going on in Khas Mahal. Repairs on at Rang Mahal where portions of a c h ajja recently collapsed .
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