Illegal work on at Atgah Khan tomb

Unauthorised construction continues unabated right next to Atgah Khan’s tomb, a centrally-protected monument in Nizamuddin Basti, despite filing of two FIRs by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). Nivedita Khandekar reports.

Unauthorised construction continues unabated right next to Atgah Khan’s tomb, a centrally-protected monument in Nizamuddin Basti, despite filing of two FIRs by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). The ongoing work is in contravention to the ban on any kind of construction within 100 metres of a protected monument as per the ASI norms.

HT Image

Work is being carried out on a 20-feet wide plot in a narrow lane off the Nizamuddin dargah, on the northern wall of Atgah Khan's tomb. HT had on October 10 highlighted the issue, following which the ASI approached the police.

Atgah Khan was the husband of Mughal king Akbar’s wet nurse Jiji Angah and also held an important position in his court. Officials of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) had claimed that they would take punitive measures if any laxity was found on the part of its personnel. However, two weeks down the line, no action has been taken by the MCD.

“Apart from two FIRs and a showcause notice to those carrying out the work, we have written to the police and MCD officials,” PBS Senger, a senior ASI official, said on Friday.

“Action will be taken as per law,” said Subhash Chand, MCD deputy commissioner of the area.