Kos Minars need urgent conservation

The Kos Minars, situated on both sides of Sher Shah Marg in the town , have been pronounced as protected monuments, even as their condition has been deteriorating over the years.

The Kos Minars, situated on both sides of Sher Shah Marg in the town , have been pronounced as protected monuments, even as their condition has been deteriorating over the years.

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Nakodar and Nurmahal residents have requested union culture minister Chandresh Kumari Katoch to direct ASI officials to chemically treat the minars soon to save them from further corrosion. Says councillor Aditya Bhatara: "The ASI should chemically treat these minars at the earliest," says a Nurmahal resident, Ram Murti."

Lack of maintenance has meant that the monuments have been thickly covered by depositions of biological species and their remains. A Bilga-based political leader GS Jakhu has also demanded that these minars be exploited as tourist places.

The Kos Minars were used to deliver Shahi Daak (royal letters) from Agra to Lahore and vice-versa. It was in 1619 AD that Jahangir ordered Biqir Khan,the Fauzdar of Multan to erect Kos Minars at every kos (3.20 km).

These minars are located at Dakhni Jahangir Tut Kalan,Nakodar, Bir Pind, Cheema Kalan and Shampur in Jalandhar and in Ghungral, Raj Putan, Lashkri Khan, Dhandari Kalan,Sherpur Kalan, Shanewal in Ludhiana.