By Amandeep Madra on March 18, 2013
![com-sadequain-1[1]](http://news.ukpha.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/com-sadequain-11-300x161.jpg)
Punjab government accorded approval to the project for restoration of unique murals created by the internationally acclaimed Pakistani artist, the late Sadiqain, which have been displayed on the ceiling of Lahore Museum.
The project to safeguard this national heritage from the effects of humidity and weather conditions will be accomplished with the technical assistance of an Indian NGO ‘Intach’ which has expertise in conservation work of this nature. The project will cost around four million rupees.
Continue reading “Pakistan government pledge to restore Sadiqain’s works”
Posted in Material |
By Amandeep Madra on March 18, 2013
The Punjab government on Tuesday told the Punjab and Haryana high court that it proposed to spend Rs.100 crore, received from the Centre, for preserving century-old heritage across the state, including conservation of buildings such as Patiala’s Qila Mubarak.
The information was submitted during resumed hearing of a case in which justice Ranjit Singh of the high court had taken a serious note of media reports highlighting the state government’s apathy in preserving heritage buildings such as Qila Mubarak in Patiala and the Patiala central jail.
Continue reading “Punjab Government to spend Rs100Cr (£12m) on Heritage preservation”
Posted in Architectural | Tagged patiala, Punjab Government |
By News Editor on February 28, 2013
The carpet industry in Rajasansi, that only a few decades ago would supply high-quality carpets to Europe and Russia, has lost its sheen owing to government apathy writes Manmeet Singh Gill in The Tribune
The town and surrounding villages, employing hundreds of skilled weavers, would export 1.5 lakh square feet of carpet to European countries every month till 1995.
“Now, the people know Rajasansi for its international airport. But long before that, it was known for hand-knotted carpets.” said Giani Joginder Singh, an artisan, who is now a middleman for various export houses. He claimed that production had declined drastically.
Continue reading “Amritsar’s legendary carpet industry in knots; govt looks the other way”
Posted in Cultural | Tagged Amritsar, carpet, industry |
By News Editor on February 25, 2013
Patiala: Showing serious concern over dilapidating condition of heritage monument Qila Mubarak of Patiala, a team of experts from the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICMOS) has questioned Punjab government’s inability to protect forts.
“Punjab has only a few forts, and Qila Mubarak is of utmost importance. The state must learn from Rajasthan which in the last 15 years has developed its forts and has managed to attract huge tourists from the across the globe. When Rajasthan can protect its sites, why can’t Punjab?” David Bassett, who led the three-member team, told HT. From Britain, Bassett is also a member of the International Fortress Council.
Although 40 members of the ICMOS had originally come to Rajasthan to visit the forts in the state, some of them visited Patiala after an invitation by local NGO Patiala Our Pride and Malwinder Singh, a scion of the erstwhile royal family of Patiala.
Continue reading “‘Punjab not serious about Heritage Buildings – Should learn from Rajasthan’ say international experts”
Posted in Architectural | Tagged Akhand Dhoona, Grand Trunk Road, ICMOS, International Council on Monuments and Sites, patiala, qila mubarak, Rajasthan |
By News Editor on February 23, 2013
The 250th foundation year of the historic Qila Mubarak has brought in some good news for the admirers of the fort that has been lying in a shambles due to poor maintenance.
A three-member team of foreign experts today visited Qila Mubarak, the only fort built by a Sikh ruler. They said though the monument was in a dilapidated state, it could still be saved.
While discussing methods to save the building from further damage, they said an amount of Rs 200 crore (£25m) was required for restoration work.
Continue reading “Expert team visits Qila Mubarak, says £25million needed for renovation”
Posted in Architectural | Tagged patiala, qila mubarak, resto |
By News Editor on February 18, 2013
SULTANPUR LODHI: Notwithstanding announcements by Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal and deputy chief minister SukhbirBadal to preserve heritage of the state, construction is going on with impunity along a very old bridge, constructed with Nanakshahi bricks and considered to be around six centuries old, on the old course of historic Kali Bein writes I P Singh in The Times of India.
While the local administration seems to have turned a blind eye towards the construction being carried out by a Nihang outfit, it would not only endanger arches of the heritage bridge but would also conceal its visibility. The bridge is situated right behind historic Gurdwara Ber Sahib.
Posted in Architectural, Cultural | Tagged destruction, Nihang |
By News Editor on February 17, 2013
The renovation work on the centuries-old Gurdwara Bhai Biba Singh is nearing completion, but two parts of the building which constitute the musafir khana (lodging for pilgrims) and langar khana (free meal centre) have not been restored, enraging Sikhs who had been waiting for the reopening since long.
Work at Biba Singh started in January 2012. It was initiated by the chairman of the Evacuee Trust Property Board, with a budget of around Rs5.5 million. Biba Singh, within the walled city, is one of the two gurdwaras in the city and has not been used for worship since partition.
Continue reading “Sikhs fear for parts of historic gurdwara in Pakistan”
Posted in Architectural | Tagged destruction, gurdwara, Pakistan, peshawar |
By News Editor on February 15, 2013
In a major embarrassment for the Punjab Government, Justice Ranjit Singh of the Punjab and Haryana High Court has asserted that the State needs to be put on notice to explain why sale of heritage buildings and the land on which these stand be not stopped, writes Saurabh Malik in The Tribune.
Taking up a reference in this regard by Justice Ranjit Singh, Chief Justice Arjan Kumar Sikri and Justice Rakesh Kumar Jain today issued notice to the State and other respondents. The notice came after Justice Ranjit Singh took suo motu cognizance of news-reports in these columns on crumbling heritage of Punjab. The State has also been asked to explain whether it intends to demolish century-old Patiala central jail or other heritage buildings in Baradari Garden.
Continue reading “High Court demands explanation from Punjab Government on the sale of Patiala’s heritage”
Posted in Architectural | Tagged destruction, patiala, Punjab Government |
By News Editor on February 12, 2013
Government draws ire of heritage lovers on its plans to raze historical buildings writes Aman Sood in The Tribune
The royal city of Patiala has a long list of heritage buildings, most of them more than a century old. But instead of preserving and promoting them among the tourists, the state government has been exploring the commercial aspect: demolishing them and auctioning the land.
Continue reading “In Patiala money takes precedence over heritage”
Posted in Architectural | Tagged destruction, patiala |
By News Editor on February 12, 2013
Priceless belongings related to the Sikh history have been decaying in the historic buildings located in Patiala, courtesy the state government’s laxity in putting them on display for tourists and historians writes Aman Sood in The Tribune
Among these goods are the personal belongings of the tenth Sikh Guru Gobind Singh and a collection of over 3,000 medals collected by the erstwhile rulers of Patiala. Away from public glare, these are decaying in caskets.
Continue reading “Priceless possessions left to decay in neglected forts – among them relics of Guru Gobind Singh”
Posted in Architectural, Material | Tagged destruction, India, patiala, punjab, qila mubarak |