Cash-strapped Rajasthan's cherished heritage lies in ruins in its golden jubilee year

The Jal Mahal: The bridge over the filth-clogged Man Sagar lake was damaged last year but is yet to be repairedThe massive teak doors are held in place by temporary supports, the plaster on the walls is peeling and the exquisite lattice work on the windows is falling to pieces.Welcome to Hawa Mahal, the five-storey monument that Maharaja Pratap Singh built 200 years ago. Once Rajput queens and ladies-in-waiting got a glimpse of Jaipur through its honeycomb windows and hanging balconies. Now graffiti mars the sandstone surfaces and the Pink City's homeless use the platform opposite it as a night shelter. Visitors to the Hawa Mahal don't even get to see a portrait of its builder; last year, rainwater seeped into a showcase and damaged a painting of the Rajput king. The 19th century miniature is now gathering dust in a Rajasthan government store. It's not just the Hawa Mahal. Despite the country observing 1999 as the year of tourism and Rajasthan its golden jubilee, the state's monuments and museums couldn't have been in worse shape. Dilapidated palaces, crumbling havelis and picturesque lakes turning into cesspools - the legacy of the Rajputs is dying. Last year the monsoons washed away the floating bridge across the Man Sagar lake which leads to the Jal Mahal, also built by Pratap Singh in 1799. The water in the only lake in Jaipur stinks as the Pink City's sewage is pumped into it. Several priceless objects, some dating back to the 17th century, are rotting in dank stores in the state's ill-kept museums. And surprisingly, for a state whose economy is primarily dependent on tourism, the Government seems to have no money to preserve its heritage.The state's Archaeology Department recently surveyed the 240 monuments under its jurisdiction and determined its financial requirements. During 1998-99, against a demand of Rs 6 crore, the budget allocation was Rs 4.4 crore. Even that was cut to less than Rs 3 crore. The funds crunch has become worse this year: for 1999-2000, the department has assessed its minimum conservation needs at Rs 5.5 crore. But just Rs 2.31 crore has been sanctioned, most of which will be used up by administrative expenses.The intricate meenakari work on the walls of the Amer Fort has to be chemically conserved. No wonder conservation efforts are proving insufficient. Tourists visiting the majestic Amer Fort, 10 km from Jaipur, bring in over Rs 1 crore every year but return without getting to know anything about the Meenas who ruled the place before the Rajputs defeated them. Near the fort is a valley with temples dating back to the 8th and 10th centuries, which is yet to be developed as a tourist spot. There's a long list of repairs urgently required inside the fort. The intricate meenakari on the walls needs to be treated chemically, the mirror work in the magnificent Sheesh Mahal needs to be restored and the floors in the Diwan-e-Aam (Hall of People) at the Raja Man Singh Palace in the fort need to be relaid. Seepage and algae are ruining the Diwan-e-Khas (Hall of Elite). Though a Rs 2.5-crore project for development, conservation and restoration of the fort was approved in 1996 following a report by the Archaeology Department, the work has slowed down after over Rs 1 crore has been spent on it. The reason: the Government has only sanctioned a minuscule Rs 1 lakh against a requirement of Rs 57 lakh for 1999-2000. The report had recommended developing into a tourist resort a maze-like portion of the fort that has over 36 rooms and an entry through the valley of temples. But the proposal, which could have fetched much-needed funds, seems to have been dumped. Other projects that have suffered from a funds crunch include the work at Nahargarh, Ajmer and Gagron forts.The state's 12 museums fare no better. They need at least Rs 1.5 crore to provide just the basic facilities like documentation and storage of antique manuscripts and objets d'art. Says Pratibha Shrivastava, deputy director, Archaeology Department: "We have 30,000 miniature paintings and antiques in our stores all over the state that look more like a shop's godown than a museum's store." Some museums do not even have racks for keeping priceless items, let alone air conditioners and chemical preservation facilities. The department needs Rs 20 lakh for just documenting the artefacts in its possession across the state.The famed Albert Hall Museum in Jaipur is also a picture of neglect. Built in 1886, the only catalogue of items in the museum is itself an antique piece. The two-volume copy was printed in 1896. One of the museum's prized possessions - a huge Persian silk carpet acquired by Mirza Raja Jaisingh in 1632 - is going to pieces. At least Rs 15 lakh is needed for its conservation. A 322 BC mummy too needs expertise to prevent it from decaying. Says Shailendra Aggarwal, director, tourism, art and archaeology, Archeology Department: "I am trying to take up one project at a time. But even that will depend on the funds."The Hawa Mahal: The exquisite lattice-work windows and balconies have begun to crumble and the ceiling leaks when it rainsRealising that money will always be in short supply, Aggarwal is trying out other ways of generating funds. Involving the private sector in conservation work is one such idea. However, going by experience it's not been too successful.The G.D. Birla Group offered to conserve the Jal Mahal but the project had to be shelved because members of some royal families objected to the monument being leased out and the Government lacked the will to pursue it. Now the Oberois, who built a hotel opposite the Jal Mahal, have shown interest in maintaining the lake provided they are allowed to run a restaurant at the monument. The Archaeology Department recently issued advertisments seeking the involvement of corporate houses and former royal families in preserving the monuments. "The response has been good and we are working out ways so that business houses get mileage for the money they spend," says Bina Kak, minister of state for tourism, archeology and culture.Other suggestions include allowing advertisments at the monuments. Or discreet signboards that read: "Built by Maharaja Pratap Singh, maintained by XYZ". Sounds innovative if nothing else. But perhaps that's the only way of preventing the symbols of our heritage from getting ravaged by time and man.Published By: AtMigration Published On: Nov 15, 1999 00:00 IST--- ENDS ---

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Cash-strapped Rajasthan's cherished heritage lies in ruins in its golden jubilee year

Dilapidated palaces, crumbling havelis and forts gone to seed. Cash-strapped Rajasthan's cherished heritage lies in ruins in its golden jubilee year.

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