The Ministry of National Heritage and Culture has refused permission to relocate a British World War-I memorial after developers sought to move it for a commercial project, citing the lack of legal protection and missing land records from the Capital Development Authority.
An official said the memorial cannot be shifted unless it is first declared a protected heritage site. The CDA has failed to provide the required revenue record despite repeated reminders since 2020, preventing the archaeology department from initiating the protection process.
The memorial, built after 1914 to honor local soldiers from villages including Rehara, stands on Kuri Road near Rehara village. Recent construction activity has cut and leveled the surrounding land, leaving the structure isolated on a 35 to 40 feet high mound. Officials warned that the tilted monument now risks collapse.
The Department of Archaeology and Museums rejected a proposal by CDA and a housing society to relocate the memorial to a nearby roundabout, stating that moving it would undermine its historical purpose. The ministry said even relocation would require prior legal protection, which remains impossible without CDA’s documentation.
The heritage ministry warned that continued inaction could lead to the loss of the neglected landmark and urged CDA to immediately provide records so the memorial can be preserved.
Via: Dawn News
