Chandigarh manhole cover sold for Rs 10L in London

Amarjot Kaur

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 22

A Corbusier-designed UT’s manhole cover was auctioned by Sotheby’s in London for Rs10.15 lakh on Tuesday night.

In connection with this latest auction of Chandigarh’s heritage item, Ajay Jagga, member of the city’s Heritage Items Protection Cell, has written to Nadine Dorries, Britain’s Culture Secretary, Government of UK, India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and some Lords and MPs of the UK Parliament.

In his representation, Jagga has asked for a probe with respect to the auction of the city’s manhole cover and if the auction house was the legal owner of the manhole cover. He has also asked how the protected articles reached London?

“The recent Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) orders again banning the export from sea and airports further evidence that our nation is committed to stopping this cultural trafficking and bringing back smuggled items. Since the item was auctioned in London, the Culture Minister/Secretary is also being informed, seeking probe into the sale of our heritage item. Auction of UT’s heritage items, especially designed by Pierre Jeanneret and Le Corbusier, in the UK is going prior to 2010. So we appeal to the UK Parliament to come to the rescue for our heritage,” read Jagga’s representation.

“In 2010 also, a manhole cover was auctioned in the UK with almost similar price,” he said.

Jagga wrote that the auction of Indian heritage by foreign auction houses was spreading, causing huge losses to the nation’s prestige apart from violation of ban.

The representation

In his representation, Ajay Jagga, member of the city’s Heritage Items Protection Cell, has asked for a probe with respect to the auction of the city’s manhole cover and if the auction house was the legal owner of the manhole cover. He has also asked how the protected articles reached London?