Delhi govt may hand over Mirza Ghalib's Haveli, 74 monuments to NGOs for upkeep
New Delhi, June 30
The Delhi Cabinet, headed by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, has approved a proposal to allow non-government entities, NGOs, and institutions to adopt 75 of its monuments, including the Haveli of Mirza Ghalib in Chandni Chowk's Ballimaran.
The proposal envisages handing over these monuments to trusts, NGOs, foundations, or institutions for their conservation and upkeep, said an official statement on Tuesday.
All 75 monuments, including Turkman Gate on Asaf Ali Road and the Baradari of Qudsia Garden, come under the Archaeology Department of the Delhi government, the statement said.
Almost a dozen of these monuments are located near the Mehrauli Archaeological Park and on the Northern and Southern Ridges.
The list of 75 monuments includes a Turret, Mosque (Nameless), Baoli, Mosque and four walls of an enclosed garden, with its entrance, located in Lodi Garden, said a statement.
An official statement said the list also includes the Mutiny Memorial on the Northern Ridge near Hindu Rao Hospital.
Several monuments in Badarpur village have also been included in the list. These monuments include the Northern Gateway of Badarpur Saria, the Central Gateway of Badarpur Saria, and the Southern Gateway & enclosure remains of Badarpur Saria, said the statement.
The Gumti of Sheikh Ali in Defence Colony, Gol Gumbad near Lodhi Road Flyover, Munda Gumbad inside Deer Park near Hauz Khas Tank, Bara Lao ka Gumbad, Mosque, Baoli and Water Channel in DDA Park Vasant Vihar near Priya Cinema and Mosque of Darwesh Shah near Siri Auditorium, Khel Gaon, also figure in the list of monuments that the Delhi government plans to hand over to others for upkeep.
The Gateway of Mahaldar Khan Garden at Rana Pratap Bagh near Gur Ki Mandi, a Baili in Sector 12 in Dwarka, Malcha Mahal on S.P Mukherjee Marg, Imambara on Qutub Road and Bhuli Bhatiyari Ka Mahal on Southern Ridge Near Karol Bagh are also part of the monuments to be handed over to non-government entities, said the statement.
— IANS
Reader Comments
I'm a bit skeptical about this. Handing over historic sites to NGOs means they'll be run like private properties. What about public access? Many of these places are free to visit now. Will we have to pay entry fees? And who ensures they don't get turned into commercial spaces for events? Need more clarity from the govt.
As someone who has visited Delhi's monuments, I can see both sides. The government is clearly overwhelmed with maintaining so many sites. A public-private partnership could work if done right—just look at how the Aga Khan Trust restored Humayun's Tomb. But they need to set strict guidelines for conservation, not just maintenance. Let's hope this doesn't become a way for corporates to get prime real estate in the name of heritage.
Bahut accha decision hai! 😊 I've seen Ghalib's Haveli—it's in a pathetic condition with encroachments and garbage around. Letting responsible NGOs adopt it could make a huge difference. But please, the government should ensure these are not misused for weddings or commercial film shoots. Heritage first, profit later!
I appreciate the intent, but I'm worried about accountability. The Delhi govt's archaeology department has done a poor job with many of these monuments already. Who will audit the NGOs? What happens if they fail? Also, 75 monuments is a lot—I hope they start with a pilot project first. Otherwise, this could be a disaster waiting to happen.
R Rohit P Ya We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.