Jammu:
A 150-year-old Mahal built by the Dogra kings in Jammu and Kashmir has suffered "heavy damage" due to encroachment, even as controversy brews over the state government's move to lease out another heritage monument to a private firm for setting up a five-star hotel.
Locals had raised protest over the government's move to give 'Mubarak Mandi', the seat of power of the erstwhile Dogra King, to private dealers to set up the hotel.
Another Dogra monument, 'Gole Mahal', 7 km away from 'Mubarak Mandi', has suffered damage after labourers, hired by a neighbouring property dealer, allegedly attempted to raze the monument to build a residential complex.
Set in a mango orchard in Hazuribagh area in Jammu city, the 'Gole Mahal' was allegedly vandalised by the labourers after five of its pillars were damaged in broad daylight, despite district authorities' call to stop all activity at the heritage site.
"The file for declaring the monument a protected site has come to me. I am studying it. Nobody can touch the monument", District Magistrate Sanjeev Verma told PTI.
When asked about the alleged plunder by labourers, Verma said he would look into the matter.
Jammu and Kashmir government had set up a probe panel, headed by Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Rehana Batool, in October last year to probe the alleged encroachment in the historic Dogra monument.
"I submitted the report to the District Magistrate long back. I have recommended that action should be taken to declare the monument as state protected at the earliest," said Rehana Batool.
Locals, however, allege that the District Magistrate was deliberately delaying the process so that the monument would be razed before the government issues an order to declare it a protected monument.
An ASI official, however, denied the allegation saying all activity at the site had been stopped and the monument was in "good condition."
"The (dismantling) work was stopped in October after our visit. They had caused minor damage to the roof. We have asked them not to touch the building. We had taken pictures of monument, which is in good condition with all pillars, arches and domes intact," said Mohmmad Ashraf, Deputy Director of the State Archaeology Department.
"We have submitted the report to ADDC for declaring the monument as a protected heritage monument under the state government. The official process for that has begun and is underway," he said.
Former Chief Minister Sheikh Abdullah, Bakshi Gulam Mohmmad, who ruled the state as Prime Minister from 1953 to 1964, and other leaders were kept in detention in Gole Mahal during the Emergency.