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Neeraj Bagga
Tribune News Service
Amritsar, April 21
The state government has spent crores of rupees to revamp the heritage complex of the colonial architecture, Town Hall, to make it Partition Museum, but spitting of paan (beetle leaf laced with lime and areca nut) hither and thither on the walls gives the historic structure a shabby look.
Visitors say such a practice shouldn’t be allowed on the premises of the museum and the errants should be made to face the music. A tourist from Sangrur, Nirmal Singh, said he was dismayed to see beetle leaf stains on the newly painted walls. “The errants are not bothered about the beauty of the premises. The question is, have they done it at their houses as well,” he said.
Another visitor, Satvir Singh from Rohtak, said, the refurbished colonial building houses the museum that throws light on the communal riots following the Partition of the country. “It is really impressive to learn that it is the only museum in the world to highlight the atrocities of the 1947 Partition. Same respect and sensitivity must be shown to the museum,” he says.
Residents say those who do so can be caught easily as CCTV cameras have been installed here.
Balram Kumar Sharma, president of Punjab Sudhar Sabha, an NGO, said the authorities concerned must take a note of the nuisance and deploy its staff to keep a vigil on the campus to avert such damages. He said people should be made aware and sensitive towards public properties.
When contacted, an MC official said the staff would be directed to look into the aberrations and do the needful.