The letter states that already the fort is not being maintained properly due to paucity of funds and since most of the people of Patiala have some linkage or the other with the royal history of the erstwhile state, the unchecked construction was adding insult to injury.

The Deputy Commissioner has urged the Principal Secretary to look into the matter personally and sort it out with the Local Government Department. He has also urged that the medal gallery be opened to the public so that the priceless treasure can be appreciated by all.

According to sources, literal interpretation of Section 30,1 (i) of the Act states that whoever destroys, injures, alters or defaces a protected monument shall be punishable with imprisonment which may extend till three months or with a fine which may extend till Rs 5,000 or both.

The shopkeeper are, however, in no mood to relent on the issue. They say they have been in possession of the shops as tenants after Independence and that the corporation had sold the shops to them at the rate of Rs 8,000 per square yard. This, they claimed, entitled them to carry out construction on the first floor. They said the facade of the fort would not be affected by the construction activity as it was not decorated along the area in which their shops fell.