It took Rs 5 lakh by Maharaja Karam Singh to construct the magnificent Kaur Sahab ki Haveli in the city for his younger son. Contractor Harkeerat Singh is getting Rs 13 lakh to demolish the haveli so that the 'optimum utilisation' of the land can be made by the Punjab Urban Development Authority  (PUDA). For the residents of the city a priceless part of their history is being wiped out.

The demolition of the haveli spread over three acres of prime land in the city, started yesterday afternoon. The contractor has already demolished the main gate leading to the haveli and workers are bringing down the boundary wall. Only part of the main building has been touched till yet with workers bringing down the nearby barrack style construction which was the Faraash Khana (stores) of the Patiala state and the boundary wall.

Even though the building has been declared unsafe since 1988 and orders for its demolition passed few months ago, the contractor is going to take three months to demolish the building. This is because the masonry is very sturdy and difficult to bring down, says the contractor who is supervising the entire operation.  A visit to the site and inspection of the double storeyed structure revealed that it could have been maintained if the Public Works (Building and Roads) wing, which had been entrusted with its care so desired. A number of employees are still living in the building despite the demolition exercise having started. Om Parkash, an employee of the PWD (B and R), who is living on the first floor, said his living quarters were there for all to see.

He said none of the roofs of the rooms occupied by him leaked. Others said the condition of the building had deteriorated in the past 10 to 12 years as the department concerned did not carry out any repair work. The building could be maintained even now if parts of it which had been badly damaged could be strengthened, they added. Om Prakash said though he would be shortly vacating the premises as he had been allotted alternative accommodation, he had not been served with any eviction notice. Around four to five families are still living in the main building.

Even more disturbing is the large scale vandalisation which has taken place in the haveli. Most of the government employees living in the haveli have taken windows, doors and even intricately carved wooden frames with them upon leaving the premises. A visit to the haveli reveals that most of the doors, windows and frames are missing. However they are present wherever people are still residing.  The most recent case of vandalisation occurred yesterday when part of the door in a room which had been intricately carved, disappeared from the premises last night. Half of door had been taken out of its frame by workers yesterday. Harkeerat Singh said workers had left part of the door in the building itself last night and that it was found missing today.