* PAD says step taken to give visitors better view of the fort
* Dr Ejaz says PAD minting money under such practices

LAHORE: The Punjab Archeology Department (PAD) has replaced 100-year-old British era grills with new ones, Daily Times learnt on Monday.

The British era grills could still be seen at Railway Station, Lawrence Gardens and Shalamar Gardens. In the Mogul era no monument had such fence-like grills at the main entrance or the back door.

The PAD officials said these changes have been made for public safety especially keeping in view occasions like eid and Independence Day when a large number of people could visit these historical sites. They said fences and barriers could help control people from entering illegally.

They said the old grills were about six-feet high and visitors were unable to take a look of the fort while entering from the main and even the back gate. They said these fences blocked the view of Diwan-e-Khas, Diwan-e-Aam and the Jehangir’s Quadrangle. The new grills have been designed keeping in view Islamic and Mogul patterns. The grills have been painted with dark copper colour. The British era grills had also been painted with this colour.

PAD director general Shahbaz Khan said the old grills looked ugly. He said no historical monument across the world had fences and barriers to keep the people away, except Pakistan.

Dr Ejaz Anwar, a conservationist, blamed the PAD for minting money in the name of beautifying the monuments. He said British era grills were more durable. He said one could see these grills at the National College of Arts and the Lahore Museum. He said such changes should not be made. He said in order to give a better view the PAD should adopt other methods rather than overloading the weak walls and replacing the grills. The old grills had their own significance, he added.

The second phase of conservation work has been started in June 2007 and the project was started on the request of the Punjab government. The government had allocated Rs 300 million for the conservation of the Lahore Fort and the Shalamar Gardens.