Microbrewery on heritage building premises irks locals

Parvesh Sharma

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, June 26

The Sangrur administration’s decision to hand over a bar and restaurant, constructed illegally on the premises of Ranbir Club, a heritage building, to a private company for seven years has angered local residents.

The club was constructed in 1901 by Maharaja Ranbir Singh for sports activities, but now a hoarding of a microbrewery welcomes residents.

“The restaurant is just 5 ft away from the main building. The restaurant, which was running for the past many years illegally, was closed last year. But now the administration wants to restart it through a private company. We will oppose it at all levels,” said Karanvir Sibia, Director of Sangrur Heritage and Literary Festival.

“The authorities have not got the map of bar or restaurant approved from the Nagar Council (NC). It’s being done in violation of norms. How can they hand over a portion of a heritage site to a private company for Rs 75 lakh?” said Jasinder Kaur, a local.

Sangrur NC Executive Officer (EO) Amrit Lal said they had not approved any map.

The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage Punjab Chapter (INTACH) in a letter to the Sangrur DC has also said illegal construction on the same premises changes the original character of the surroundings. It sought a halt on the construction of the new restaurant.

Sangrur SDM Avikesh Gupta said the club was not in the list of declared heritage buildings under the Punjab Ancient and Historical Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1964.

However, Rajiv Jindal, heritage lover, said the Act says a historical monument means any structure which has been in existence for not less than 100 years.

“The restaurant was built almost 25 years ago when there was no heritage status of the main building. We will ensure all laws are complied with,” said DC Ghanshayam Thori.