New structures at Chamba Chaugan upset residents

Lalit Mohan

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, July 1

Residents of Chamba are upset over the concrete pavements and other structures being raised at the historical Chaugan.

Chaugan is a natural green pasture in the middle of Chamba town. The government has granted the heritage status to the Chamba Chaugan. Most cultural activities such as the annual Minjar Fair are organised at Chaugan, where as most of the residents of the town gather in the morning and the evening. However, during the lockdown, the district administration started constructing concrete pavements and sheds in the area. Sources said that the National Hydro Power Corporation (NHPC) was funding the work.

The Chamba Janhit Organisation has written to the government against it. Member of the organisation SL Sharma alleged that the heritage was being destroyed. Earlier, the basic structure of the Akhand Chandi Palace, the residence of the erstwhile rulers of Chamba state, was changed after it was handed over to the medical college temporarily. Some residents went to the High Court for

its protection. Now, the basic structure of the Chaugan was being changed, he said.

Members of the organisation have threatened to launch an agitation if the concretisation at the Chaugan is not stopped. The residents alleged that for raising any concrete structure in the Chaugan, the permission of the government should be taken, as it has been declared a heritage site of Himachal.

They alleged that the Chaugan had five portions, of which four had been destroyed by raising concrete structures. The remaining portion should be protected at any cost.

Deputy Commissioner Vivek Bhatia was not available for comments despite repeated calls to his mobile phone.

Sources said some citizens had approached the National Trust for Art and Culture Heritage (INTACH) regarding the concretisation of the Chougan. the INTACH authorities have taken up the matter with the government.

A heritage site

Members of the Chamba Janhit Organisation have threatened to launch an agitation if the concretisation of the Chaugan is not stopped. Local residents say that for raising any concrete structure at the Chaugan, the government’s permission should be taken as it has been declared a heritage site of Himachal Pradesh.