Heritage building set to be demolished

Written by Varinder Walia

Tuesday, 21 November 2006

Heritage lovers on Saturday received a rude shock to see the shifting of the 155-year-old Saragarhi Memorial Government School, the first school opened by the British Government in 1851, opposite Town Hall, to a new building on the Amritsar-Jalandhar road. The new building poses a danger to human life due to the presence of a power grid on its premises. With this, the heritage building is all set to be demolished for constructing a parking, much to the chagrin of heritage lovers . Students of the school were directed to help in the shifting process. What is shocking is that the shifting was effected despite the fact that inspection notes ,prepared by officials of various government departments stated that the new building posed a danger to human life since the power grid was installed on the premises of the new building . Dr Manmohan Singh had written to the Chief Minister in 2004 stating that the old heritage building should be preserved . The missive of Dr Singh read: “In view of the glorious record of service to the community, this great institution needs to be upgraded rather than being demolished”. Mr Kuldip Singh Mahawa, Principal of the school, said the help of students was sought to shift computers only . Mr Mohan Singh Cheema, District Education Officer (Secondary), said the new building “is safe because an outer wall has been constructed to save students and staff from any harm. Mr Cheema claimed that Rs 7 crore had been spent on the new building. The new school building on the Amritsar-Jalandhar road houses the 220 lakh high grid pylon tower that poses a threat. The Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) and a high-powered committee, constituted by the Education Department, has already opposed the shifting of students to the new building. The PSEB had also mentioned that no building could be constructed near the power grid since it could play havoc in case of a calamity. Dr Krishan Thakur, a resident of Amritsar who has been fighting a battle against the proposed demolition of the 155-year-old building, said the school should not be shifted till the power grid was removed. He emphasised the need for preserving the old heritage building.

Amandeep Madra About the author: Comments (3) >> Show/Hide comments GURBHEJ SINGH said:   I, Gurbhej Singh Sandhu, on behalf of Mission Aagaaz-Earth & Rersources Care Group, appeal to the masses and heritage loving people to stand together in support of the NGOs (Pingalwara, Amritsar Vikas Manch, Mission Aagaaz, National Welfare Society etc) and force the administration to shun its plan to demolish Saragarhi Memorial Sen. Sec. School, Townhall, Amritsar. We have started Chipko Movement on 23rd Nov. 2006 under the leadership of Dr. Inderjit Kaur of Pingalwaa Trust, against this decision of the administration. November 24, 2006 L.R.Singh said:   While in general ,I am for preserving the buildings/monuments which have historical,cultural, religious or just emotional significance for us.But I fail to understand what heritage significance this school building has which was established by the eartwhile foreign rulers, the signs of whose cruelty are still etched on the walls of Jallian Wala Baagh in the same city? Why should this bulding be preserved? January 09, 2007 Gurbhej Singh said:   The answer is simple, though the school was built by the Britishers, but they made it a memorial in the memory of Sikh Soldiers who laid down their lives fighting against a huge army of afghans. If India can preserve the monuments of Mughals (who were nothing more than butchers and robbers) then preservence of this building is very much justified. March 05, 2007 Write comment You must be logged in to post a comment. Please register if you do not have an account yet.

 

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