Patiala’s heritage sites cry for revival

While the district administration celebrated the heritage festival of the erstwhile princely city of Patiala through a series of high-profile events, the iconic infrastructure, including Rajindra Lake and the Heritage Street continued to paint a picture of bureaucratic neglect.

The historic lake remains dry despite repeated announcements and missed deadlines for its revival. Wild growth has overtaken the waterbed, giving the once-prominent tourist attraction the look of a neglected village pond. Ironically, even the heritage-style electricity poles installed outside the lake premises were stolen and no replacements have been put up so far.

Adding to the civic woes, the approach road leading to the lake remains dug up with road repair progressing at a sluggish pace. In the absence of a designated parking area near the nearby court complex, vehicles are routinely parked along the roadside, resulting in traffic congestion. Across the city, residents continue to grapple with dug-up streets and slow-paced infrastructure works. Even the much-publicised Heritage Street is crying for attention.

The project to rejuvenate Rajindra Tank was initiated in 2020 during the tenure of the Amarinder Singh-led Congress government. An expenditure of Rs 5.04 crore was incurred to strengthen the boundary wall, create a walkway, clean the waterbed and plantations and install water fountains. The works were executed by the Public Works Department (PWD), the Department of Water Resources and the Horticulture Department. In July last year, a detailed project report (DPR) for permanently storing water in the lake and developing it as a tourist destination was approved by the State-Level Technical Committee. A tender was to be floated and officials had then claimed that the lake would be filled within a month. However, seven months on, the lake remains dry and the approach road unfinished.

The lake has also failed to find a clear custodian, with government departments claiming it does not fall within their ambit. The lack of ownership has added to the neglect. Deputy Commissioner Varjeet Walia said the administration had received an encouraging response to the ongoing heritage festival and was simultaneously focusing on reviving the lake.

“We are taking up the task on a mission mode. Boating in the lake will start within two months,” he said, adding that instructions had been issued to the departments concerned to expedite recarpeting of dug-up roads. So far, the district administration has organised a flower show, food festival, military weapon exhibition, singing concert, nature walk and the Military Literature Festival, drawing huge crowds in the name of heritage. However, for many residents, the revival of Rajindra Tank remains the true test of the city’s commitment to preserving its heritage.