ASI,Railways cross swords over buffer zone building

“After getting to know of the illegal construction,we have filed an FIR against the Northern Railways. The Railways authorities should have taken permission before going ahead with the construction,” said KK Muhammed,Superintending Archaeologist,Delhi Circle,ASI.

The FIR,registered at the Nizamuddin police station on December 7 (a copy of which is with Newsline),states: “Construction work is being carried out near platform number 1 of Nizamuddin Railway Station without prior permission or approval,and according to the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act,1958,and (the) amended rules of 1992,this is declared illegal.” The ASI has also demanded that action be taken against the Railways.

Sources in ASI said construction within prohibited zone of a protected monument requires approval from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi,the Delhi Urban Art Commission and the ASI.

There is also disagreement over the purpose of the building. Railways officials said it was meant to be a resting room for drivers as the Nizamuddin station lacks such arrangements. “Train drivers need at least 12 hours of rest between journeys,” a Railways official said.

Sources in ASI,however,said the building will serve as a Railways guesthouse. “Nila Gumbad is an important Mughal monument and is significant as it stands in the buffer zone of Humayun’s Tomb,a World Heritage Site. The Railways had earlier dumped track material near the monument and are now constructing a new building,” a senior ASI told Newsline.

Half of the heritage structure is located on land owned by the Northern Railways; the other half belongs to the ASI.

ASI notice to 92 properties in city
Following a Delhi High Court directive,the Archaeological Survey of India will issue showcause notices to 171 properties across the country as they all lie in the prohibited 100-metre limit of protected monuments. These include two Commonwealth Games projects,a Delhi Metro stretch,structures in the Imperial Hotel in Janpath and alterations made to Delhi Finance minister A K Walia’s house in Daryaganj. Of these properties,92 are in the Capital,as per an ASI report submitted to the court. Approval for these constructions was given by an ASI committee,which the court had declared illegal on October 30.