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Manmeet Singh Gill
Tribune News Service
Amritsar, April 10
The historical Ram Bagh, the summer palace of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, has seen an unprecedented change in the last few years resulting in many fold increase in the number of visitors. At the same time, the issue of cleanliness and maintenance is a concern for visitors.
The two prominent ones, which have been restored to their old glory and are a key attraction for the local visitors as well as foreigners, include ‘macchi ghar’ and the building of swimming bath for the women of the royal household.
“Both of these two-storeyed buildings have already been renovated and even people do visit these, but both of these are empty and are getting infested with excreta of pigeons. Wasps can be seen flying all around,” says a visitor, Bal Krishan.
Nobody is available to take care of them, he says.
“A few miscreants have already scribbled indecent and broken a few bricks on the roof of swimming bath building,” he says, adding that these places should be made interactive by opening small museums or libraries. Even at ‘macchi ghar’, the pungent smell of urine troubles visitors.
Another visitor, Satwant Singh, says, “The people who have no respect for such things are to be blamed. But it can be checked if someone is there to keep an eye. Even public participation to manage these places can be the best idea.”
He, however, adds that no place should be given to anyone for commercial purpose.
The visitors stated that at present they do face difficulty in finding potable water. “We feel that once the renovation work completes fully, a plan to make these places even better will come up. Around 10 years ago, the place was in a very bad shape. Now, it has changed and it will be bettered,” said another hopeful visitor, Satnam Singh.
An official of the district administration, seeking anonymity, said, “At present, different agencies are working. All such issues can be handled only after the final control is given to any of these agencies.”
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