Boating suspended at Old Fort as ASI refuses to renew agreement

NEW DELHI: Boating at Old Fort (Purana Qila), an important tourist attraction, was suspended starting Saturday because the agreement between Archaeological Survey

NEW DELHI: Boating at Old Fort (Purana Qila), an important tourist attraction, was suspended starting Saturday because the agreement between Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and Delhi Tourism wasn’t renewed.

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The ASI is the land-owning agency for the citadel complex and Delhi Tourism runs the service which was due for renewal on March 31.

Top Delhi Tourism officials said ASI only told them not to continue with the activity, and there was no formal communication.

The place is also favoured by Delhiites because it houses the National Zoological Park as well. Visitors to the zoo also usually come to the arena to enjoy a boat ride.

The present-day lake used to be a wide moat surrounding the fort, connected to river Yamuna, which used to flow on the east of the fort.

The tourism department had a Memorandum of Understanding with the ASI for five years to run the service. The department claims it filed for renewal in January, which the ASI has not approved.

“As of now we have suspended operations at the site after we received a message from the fort in-charge to discontinue the service. The agreement had expired but we had filed for renewal this January itself. Ideally they should have given us a formal communication for the same. We are trying to approach the union ministry of culture to sort the matter out,” said Delhi Tourism MD and CEO, SP Singh.

Singh said the closing the place would be a setback for visitors. Besides being a major tourist attraction, the service was also major source of revenue for the tourism department.

“We have a major investment in the place. We have assets worth around ` 1.5 crore, including 70 boats and a full-fledged floating platform. We have 60 pedal boats and a few other motor boats there, none of which can be used anywhere else,” said a senior tourism official.

He added that even if the ASI considered handing over the services to another agency, it will take several months for the process.

“The place, meanwhile, remaining closed will turn into a swamp and rather become a zone for anti-social elements to loiter around. They have not given us a time-frame either. So, we still don’t know if and when the operations can be resumed,” he said.

The spot is let out for shooting movies as well, he said.

ASI additional director general, Sharat Sharma, said, “The agreement with Delhi Tourism lapsed this March. It is a policy matter. They had sent us the terms and conditions which are still to be approved. Also, the India Tourism Development Corporation is willing to take over the services.”

He said the verification of agreements was going on. “We will decide soon. Until the agreement is renewed, boating cannot be continued.”