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Delhi history fading into oblivion as 10 ASI monuments lie encroached

No showcause has been issued to Firoz Shah Kotla squatters

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Several Mughal, Lodhi and Tughlaq monuments in Delhi, under the custody of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), have been encroached. The information obtained by The Tribune through an RTI states that illegal residential houses have been built on the land of over 10 historical monuments in the national capital.

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While ASI maintains that it has sent showcause notices to the encroachers, nothing concrete on ground has been done to clear the sites.

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The 14th century mausoleum of Khan-i-Jahan Tilangani, 16th century Lal Mahal — which is a mausoleum tomb of Ataga Khan and a unique monument from the Lodhi era find their names in the list of encroached sites.

“We have sent 20 showcause notices against encroachers and had sent letters to the district magistrate in 2022 and twice in 2023 to remove them. As many as 20 families have occupied the basement of Atgah Khan tomb illegally,” a senior official from ASI said. The Tughlaq-era Begumpuri Masjid has also been encroached and 86 showcause notices were issued by the ASI.

Firoz Shah Kotla built by Firoz Shah Tughlaq in the 14th century has been encroached by houses and no showcause notices have been served. Commercial and residential properties have been built on ASI land by the Kashmiri Gate city wall built by Shah Jahan stands.

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Nestled in the narrow lanes of Mehrauli, Zafar Mahal, considered to be the last monument built by the Mughals in the 18th century, lies in a state of neglect with several residential buildings sticking to the monument’s wall.

“Due to lack of funds, some of the monuments were neglected. We are aware of the situation there. Every circle of the ASI receives sanctioned funds each year. Renovation of Zafar Mahal was on our agenda last year and we believe to renovate it completely by next year,” a senior archaeologist from the ASI said.

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