ASI to probe into vanishing monuments in Delhi

New Delhi, Apr 9: The Delhi High Court has issued notices to the Union Government and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on a petition seeking direction for an inquiry into demolition of 17 monuments and theft of the statues from them in the Capital.

A division bench headed by Justice Vijender Jain issued notice to the authorities to file their replies to the petition.

In the petition, Counsel Sugriva Dubey and Namita Roy appearing for Sri Chand Jain alleged that some of the monuments near the Old Railway station -- Teen Gumbadwala Smarak, Jogabai Ka Teela, Inqla Wali Gumti, Shershah Ke Kile Ka Moti Darwaza, Pul Chadar Alipur Kabristan, Barakhamba Kabristan, the statue of Nicolson, the statue of MacBurnett (installed during the First War of Independence of 1857) and the place of top cannon installed during the attack on Mori Gate were missing due to the negligence of the ASI.

''About 17 monuments had either been demolished or the statues and material in them been taken away or smuggled out of the country,''the petition said.

The petition, citing ASI records, stated that out of 11,000 monuments, at least 3776 were of historical importance. Out of them 1,200 were in different parts of the capital.

Mr Jain has sought direction to the authorities for preservation and conservation of these monuments like that of in other foreign countries.

The French Government had spent 4.4 million dollars to give a facelift to the monuments in Paris, he said, adding that the Government should also intitiate steps to preserve and conserve the monuments in Delhi for showcasing them for the tourists.

UNI