If one were available the authorities should receive an award for callousness. The historic Balianwali Fort that was built in early nineteenth century by the rulers of erstwhile Jind estate is now in a pathetic condition. Instead of being developed as a tourist destination, it is being made to serve as a police station. A part of the once formidable boundary walls has collapsed and rest of the walls are too, are in a lamentable condition.
According to local villagers, its foundation was laid in the early nineteenth century by Baba Gudarh Ji along with Raja Rajput and his brother Baba Alam. Baba Alam was given the control of fourteen villages around the fort by his brother so that he could collect taxes from these villages. Some time later, Baba Alam got a gurudwara installed in the fort complex and dedicated it to Baba Gudarh Ji.
At that time, the fort also housed a small police post. After unification of the region, all the estates and these small kingdoms became a part of the Indian republic and the Jind estate ceased to exist. At that time, it was a no man’s land and with no guardian and as a result the Punjab Police essentially encroached on it.
It is irony of sorts as the police, which ought to protect law and order; itself has encroached upon one of the finest monuments in the state. Ina further twist there are allegations that the electricity meters have been tempered with and the police station is getting direct power supply.
At the moment, there are no immediate plans for the revival of lost glory of the fort. The police don’t want to relocate and the government or Department of Tourism doesn’t seem to be interested in reviving it. It seems we are going to witness loss of an important historical monument in near future, lest someone from the top takes interest in reviving its glory.
It’s a sad that no one wants take a step to preserve and save the historical place for future generation.
It’s a kind of shame on authorities too.
Sorry for that