Heritage site to get bar, Sangrur upset

Vishav Bharti

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, August 26

In Sangrur, it is part of folklore how the wooden flooring of the skating rink at the heritage Maharaja Ranbir Club was procured from abroad, and how workers and carpenters came from China to install this unique architectural design towards the end of the 19th century. 

  The district administration, however, has a different plan for the heritage club — opening a liquor bar, a move that has irked heritage lovers as well as residents no end.

The club’s management —with the Deputy Commissioner as head — has signed an agreement with a liquor firm to open a micro-brewery.

“The club was built in 1901 by Maharaja Ranbir Singh. It was designed as a skating rink and cultural centre. The aesthetic look has deviated due to the surrounding new building which is going to house the brewery,” says Karamvir Singh Sibia, chairman, Sangrur Heritage Preservation Society.

The modifications in the club area have been done despite the fact that the main building has been designated as a heritage building under Sangrur’s Master Plan (2010-31). Once a building is categorised as heritage, it gets protected from new development and “construction or removal or cutting of any wall or part of the building is prohibited”.

Dr Sukhdev Singh, Punjab convener of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage, had written to the DC that the original objective of the club was to conduct sports and cultural activities. “Opening a pub is contrary to the spirit.”

Minister for Cultural Affairs and Tourism Navjot Sidhu, when contacted, said it was unfortunate that such a beautiful building was being turned into a pub.

“The government is committed to preserving each and  every heritage site. We will try to notify the building as a protected monument,” he added.

“It’s disheartening as the president of the club instead of ensuring peace to the residents adjoining the club has allowed to open a bar in an illegal structure within the heritage building. The firm has been given a free hand to carry out renovations. All the representations have fallen on deaf ears,” says Jasinder Sekhon, who lives in the vicinity.

For making changes in the building structures without approval, the Municipal Committee’s Executive Officer had last month even served a show-cause notice on the club’s management for violating Sections 195 and 195-A of Punjab Municipal Act 1911. But it was later withdrawn.

However, Deputy Commissioner Ghanshayam Thori said the Executive Officer, in his letter dated July 25, had said that fresh approval was not required as it was internal deviation. “The Assistant Town Planner has given us in writing that it is not a heritage site. We have deposited property tax of the last three years, the sewage connection has been regularised, NoC of fire safety has been procured and also licence for a liquor bar. I will ask the general secretary of the club to look into the matter and sort it out legally,” he added.   

 (With inputs from Parvesh Sharma in Sangrur)