Neeraj Bagga

TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE

AMRITSAR, JULY 3

Another death anniversary of the legendary Sikh ruler Maharaja Ranjit Singh went unnoticed in the last week of June as no attempt was made by the authorities concerned to throw open to public his memorabilia — the summer palace.

Situated in the heart of the city, he used to stay at the summer palace for visiting the Golden Temple during his stay in the holy city. The restoration work of the summer palace has jumped many deadlines. It continues to remain out of bound for people as it has been under restoration for the past nearly 14 years.

The conservation work, being carried out by a Mumbai-based private concern, had exactly begun in 2007. It has now entered the final phase of placing paintings, artefacts, weaponry and other objects reminding the period of his reign. Before the restoration work, the summer palace building used to house a museum.

Officials and workers engaged at the site said both external and internal walls were now ready and false ceiling, installing air-conditioners and light fitting work had also been finished. Conservation work was done by carefully using the same ingredients which used to prevail during the period of the Maharaja. These materials were derived from natural sources like extracts of plants, lime, eggs, moong dal and others. Before this to happen, the entire old material on the wall was painstakingly scrapped.

People associated with the tourism, tour and travel industries are keenly awaiting the re-opening of the summer palace to add one more place in the itinerary of the visitors. They say that efforts should be made to bring in visitors for the Maharaja Ranjit Singh Panorama, which is situated close to the summer palace.

AR Mishra, Project In-charge, Punjab Heritage and Tourism Promotion Board (PHTPB), said the project got delayed as no-objection certificates (NOCs) from the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) were required for as small a move as hammering a nail in a wall. Covid-induced restrictions also delayed the execution of the projects. “It is likely to be completed in the next two months,” he asserted.