Madhya Pradesh archaeology department inspects crumbling Shaukat Mahal
Responding to a story on crumbling Shaukat Mahal published on Hindustan Times’ Wednesday edition, a team of the Madhya Pradesh directorate of archaeology, archives and museums visited the 180-year-old palatial structure to inspect the damages.
Responding to a story on crumbling Shaukat Mahal published on Hindustan Times’ Wednesday edition, a team of the Madhya Pradesh directorate of archaeology, archives and museums visited the 180-year-old palatial structure to inspect the damages.
Deputy director (technical) GK Mitra, who led the team, told HT that they would inspect the structure, situated in the heart of the city, thoroughly again before submitting a report to department’s commissioner Ajatshatru.
Mitra said they were undertaking inspections following the directives of the commissioner, with whom HT had spoken about the issue.
The restoration work might be somewhat complicated as the structure is not under protection of the department and is a private property, the deputy director said.
“We will try to find some way out but the residents will have to cooperate (with the department),” Mitra said.
HT reported on Wednesday that the Shaukat Mahal -- part of the royal quadrangle around the Iqbal Maidan -- has developed major cracks and a part of the ceiling collapsed last week.
Few years ago, the archaeology department had restored the Moti Mahal that stands connected to the Shaukat Mahal by a gateway.
Nearby Sadar Manzil, another heritage structure that till recently housed the headquarters of Bhopal Municipal Corporation is also under restoration.
Sanka Jaagir gets tourism push
Sanka Jaagir, a remote village in Rajgarh district which was totally unknown till recently, has got a major tourism push from the state government following a report in HT on a special memorial called ‘Shyamji ki Chhatri’ in the village.
HT had carried a special report on its March 23 edition on the 17th century memorial dedicated to a Rajput ruler at Sanka Jaagir, 80 km from Bhopal, and how it has become a reminder for a life of moderation for the local villagers.
On Wednesday, the MP Tourism Development Corporation came out with an advertisement in major newspapers urging tourists to visit the exquisite memorial at Sanka Jaagir.
The advertisement was issued under the ‘MP Tourism Year 2015-16’ campaign. Chief engineer of the corporation Manoj Puranik said Sanka Jaagir would be included in the Bhopal-Narsinghgarh tourism circuit of which the Chidikho sanctuary is a part.
