PATIALA: The fate of Sirhindi Gate, a protected monument, hangs in the balance owing to a controversy between residents living near it and the Department of Conservation over the issue of maintaining or demolishing it. Added to this is the perennial shortage of funds faced by the state government.

Situated at the entrance of Sirhindi Bazaar and joining the Arya Samaj Market with the Patiala-Chandigarh highway, the gate was one of the nine constructed by the erstwhile rulers of the princely state in the early 19th century.

Five of those have already disappeared from the scene owing to the apathy of the government and the residents. Out of the remaining four, the Sirhindi Gate is on the verge of collapse just as the obliterated ones, while the three Darshani Gate, Samania Gate and Sunamia Gate are fortunately in a better condition.

About one and a half years ago a portion of the gateÿs roof fell down and its side walls developed cracks. Two centuries of wind and rain had weakened the structure to such an extent that its collapse seems imminent. The incident was, however, enough to wake up the Department of Conservation from its slumber. It erected walls to support the crumbling edifice. But the arrangement was only temporary.

Even though one and a half years have passed, still the collapsed roof has not been repaired. The residents living near the gate demanded demolition of the structure. They argued that as the gate was the main entrance point for them, any accident can occur if the gate collapsed. The residents also wanted to dismantle the gate as the narrow road going though it obstructed the flow of traffic and restricted the movement of heavy traffic.

The department could not allow the demolition of the gate as it was a protected monument. While the department prevented the demolition, it did little to take care of the gate, which developed more cracks during this monsoon.

Defending the department Mr Balwant Singh Assistant Conservator, who is in charge of maintaining the gate, said the department had got Rs 1.5 lakh sanctioned for renovation of the gate but the residents blocked the work.

However, when the department stuck to its stand the residents had to give in, but by that time the funds had been exhausted, the conservator added. In the next financial year the department faced shortage of funds due to which much could not be spent on the gate. The department had already saved Samania Gate, near Mohindra College, from collapsing and is working hard to save the city's heritage.

Mr Jaspreet Singh, a resident living near Sirhindi Gate, said they demanded demolition of the gate because the Conservation Department was doing nothing to maintain the protected monument. Now and then bricks or cement splinters fall from the gate and injure passers-by.

Mr S.M. Verma, Reader in the Department of Correspondence Courses, Punjabi University, said the historians were concerned at the loss of heritage through collapse of the gates and other monuments.