Dilapidated buildings

Taking a cue from the unfortunate accident last week, we urge the authorities concerned to draw up a policy under which an accurate list of such derelict buildings would be prepared and appropriate actions taken according to the needs. For example, those which can be renovated would be repaired accordingly and those which cannot be, would be demolished. The authority might consider giving the owners of those buildings loans at low interest and extend other facilities for erecting new houses. But one thing is for sure -- no one should be allowed to live in such buildings that put not only the lives of those living there at risk, but also of those living in the neighbourhood. The building owners should also realise that life is more precious than fighting legal battles and obstructing the process of renovation.

Here we would like to draw the authorities' attention to some of the buildings that have archeological values but are being illegally occupied by many. For example the South Plaza of Bara Katra built in the Mughal era for housing students of a madrasa. There are many other such monuments that represent our heritage and history. These need urgent attention. Sadly we have never followed any code of preservation as other cities like Kolkata and Delhi with historical relics have. In the rush for modernisation, we seem to have lost our interest in preserving our roots. Society must not be oblivious of its past glory.

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