The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) will undertake the work of conservation, restoration, rejuvenation and redevelopment of the Mehrauli Archaeological Park, Sanjay Van and Shalimar Bagh, at its own cost, under the overall supervision of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) of the Union Ministry of Culture.
These three parks under the ownership of DDA have several ASI-protected monuments, which were hitherto lying in a state of “neglect”, the LG office said on Friday.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) to this effect is set to be signed between DDA and ASI within the next one week. However, basic works like drawing, planning and mobilisation of resources has already commenced without waiting for a formal MoU, as agreed between DDA and ASI, it said.
“Following communications between the Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena and Union Culture Minister G Kishan Reddy, wherein the former had requested for handing over these sites to DDA for restoration and redevelopment, the latter has agreed to hand over ASI monuments location in these sites to DDA,” the LG office said.
The ministry has also handed over the Dilli Chalo, Ghata Masjid, Urdu Academy and Sadbhavna Parks behind the Red Fort and the Walled City for rejuvenation and redevelopment to DDA. The tenders for redevelopment projects of these parks are in advance stages.
It may be noted that the recently revamped Mehrauli Archaeological Park houses many an ASI-owned monuments like Balban’s Tomb, Jamali-Kamali Mosque and many other lesser known unidentified monuments and structures that were discovered during the recent restoration drive by DDA and will now be taken up for restoration, conservation and redevelopment.
The Sanjay Van houses many medieval monuments that include Qila Rai Pithora, that belonged to the Tomar Dynasty, in the pre-Sultanate period, it was also the Capital of Prithviraj Chauhan. It also houses several monuments including Rajon Ki Baoli and Anangtal Baoli.
Similarly, the Shalimar Bagh in North Delhi houses the Sheesh Mahal and an extensive Mughal Garden apart from various relics of Mughal Architecture.