The recent demolition of the Lal Mahal, 13th century monument at Nizamuddin has put the spotlight on vulnerable heritage structures in the Capital. While many of Delhi’s monuments, including baolis and mosques, have served as public spaces within communities, the older communities settled around a monument have been replaced by illegal encroachments.

According to ASI rules, no construction is allowed at least 100 metres around a protected monument. Buildings constructed after 1992 around the monument encroaching this space, are eligible for removal. Near the World Heritage Site of Humayun’s Tomb, the Nizamuddin basti houses several such monuments. The settlement sprang up around the shrine of the Sufi saint Nizamuddin Auliya, in his lifetime and has remained inhabited since.

While the crowded bylanes of the basti are most famous for Auliya’s dargah, they also have around 10 protected monuments, and several other heritage structures, that have still not been notified as ‘protected’. Lal Mahal, was one such structure.

Another such structure is the Kalan Masjid, built in 1370 by the prime minister of Feroze Shah Tughlaq. The mosque has been reinforced with concrete and white- washed. The baoli or step-well near the dargah, once reputed to have magical qualities, has sewage water in it.

The ‘protected’ tag does not guarantee prevention from encroachments. The Chaunsath Khamba, the 17th century marble tomb of Mirza Aziz Kokltash, the son of Ataga Khan, and Jiji Anga (Akbar’s wet nurse) share a similar fate. The 64-pillared tomb is now surrounded by multi-storied buildings.

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