30-04-2025
Mughal tombs to 1857 cemetery: 7 ASI-protected Delhi monuments under encroachment
Seven national monuments in Delhi, protected under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), are experiencing unlawful encroachments, according to a Right to Information (RTI) response received by India monuments include Ataga Khan's tomb in Nizamuddin village, Begumpur Masjid in Begunmpur Village, Feroz Shah Kotla Fort at Delhi Gate, Tughlaqabad Fort Complex among others.1. Ataga Khan's tomb in Nizamuddin village: Several mausoleums and gardens were constructed around the Nizamuddin Dargah during Akbar's rule, to the east of which this tomb of Shams-ud-Din Atgah Khan, a well-known Mughal leader and Akbar's foster father, was constructed in red sandstone and white marble between 1566 and
2. Begumpur Masjid in Begunmpur Village: A mosque with distinctive architectural elements from the Tughlaq era in the 14th century. It was constructed in Jahanpanah during the rule of Muhammad Shah Tughluq and his successor Feroz Shah.3. Rajpur (Mutiny Cemetery) in Maurice Nagar: This cemetery contains the greatest number of British graves from the 1857 rebellion.4. D'Eremao Cemetery near Kishanganj Railway Station: Beginning at least 1781, this cemetery in Old Delhi is thought to be the first European burial ground in the city and reflects strong Indo-European links from the Mughal age.5. Feroz Shah Kotla Fort at Delhi Gate: One of the oldest buildings in Delhi, it was constructed in 1354 by Sultan Feroz Shah Tughlaq when the capital moved from Tughlaqabad to Ferozabad, on the banks of the Yamuna. The fort is famous for having a 13-meter-tall Ashokan Pillar that was transported from Kashmiri Gate (City Wall) near ISBT Kashmere Gate: Designed to serve as Shahjahanabad's northern entrance, Kashmere Gate marked the path to Kashmir and was essential to the uprising in 1857.7. Tughlaqabad Fort Complex in South-East Delhi district: Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq constructed the Tughlaqabad Fort in 1321 with the intention of creating a magnificent, independent capital with tall walls and secret response of ASI on India Today's RTI acknowledges the existence of encroachments at the designated sites, but it does not address certain important questions such as those including the nature and character of the response does not clarify whether the encroachments comprise commercial buildings, homes, or other illegal ASI refers to Section 19(1) and 19(2) of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act,1958, which forbids building, mining, excavation, or similar activity in protected areas without permission from the Central the response does not state the precise actions taken over the past five years against these illegal 1958 law empowers the government to order the removal of illegal structures, with the cost recoverable from the of the monuments in question date back to the 14th century and these monuments significantly contribute to ASI's revenue.
