Long-awaited Mughal canal to be multi-cultural marvel

Parveen Arora

Tribune News Service

Karnal, December 3

The Karnal Municipal Corporation (KMC) has started the process to develop the Mughal Canal phase-II and III. The long-awaited project has been hanging fire for the last five years.

Five different kinds of architectural styles, including Hindu, Mughals, Buddhist, Rajputana, and modern have been prepared and sent to the government for approval.

“Since Karnal has been included in the smart city project, the KMC has planned to develop the market with facilities of commercial building, parking, cycle track, amusement places for kids and other,” says Priyanka Soni, Commissioner, KMC.

“We are planning to construct all buildings according to old Hindu, Buddhist, Mughal, Rajputana, and modern styles, before selling these for uniformity purpose,” she adds.

“According to the old Hindu style, we will develop a model of Sun dial, water bodies, sculpture, buildings and a gateway on the one side of the canal, while on the other we will develop a Buddha sculpture, sitting area, playing area for children, gateway and buildings conforming to the Buddhist style,” Priyanka says.

“Similarly, a recreational space, water body, entrance gate and the building face will be constructed according to the Mughal style on the one of the sides, while a kiosk, sitting area, gateway and buildings will be constructed according to the Rajputana style on the other,” she adds.

The MC Commissioner says a skating court, recreational area, swings, sitting area, public health facilities, gateway, and some buildings will be developed in a portion of the canal on the modern pattern.

With an aim to provide relief to residents from the filthy atmosphere as well as to use the space constructively, former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on November 18, 2012, had laid the foundation stone to cover the canal bed so that the market could be developed along the site, which is at present vegetable and fruit vendors are using.

It was earlier announced that it would be a self-financing project of around Rs 200 crore and a multi-storey market would be constructed on the embankments of the canal.

The Irrigation Department had got the canal bed constructed, while the MC had to develop the market, but due to the land issue between the Forest Department and the KMC it has been hanging fire. Around six-months ago, both departments had sorted out all issues and the District Town and Country Planner had also given nod to the development of these markets.