The Archaeological Survey of India on Monday began conservation work on the roof of the historic Diwan-e-Khas at the Red Fort. It hopes to restore the monument to its pristine glory within four months. Officials working on the project said what they have undertaken is “not a restoration but the real work (conservation)”.
Restoration is beautifying the monument/building by plastering and applying other means. Though the conservation will not be ‘visible’ to common people and tourists as it is done silently without disturbing them but it would make the roof stronger after the process.
The very reasons and process of the work involved has interesting details that clearly explains the hurdles faced by the institution in carrying out such a mammoth task. Sources said the ASI overcame “lots of bureaucratic pressures, including lack of funds, manpower and NOCs at several layers,” before undertaking the task.
A representative of the ASI spoke about the project on condition of anonymity due to “protocol reasons”. “We discovered the damage to the roof two years ago when we noticed a minor sagging on it during an inspection. We started digging one corner of it and found out that it was filled with wood powdered over the years due to ageing of the monument. We also noticed seepage. We collected the samples and sent it to our research centre.”
“Originally, there were several panels of wood on the roof painted with real gold and other organic colours and sealed with real silver. In 1739, Nadir Shah came here and looted most part of it. After he left, it was then conserved with copper but over the years and with the arrival of the British Raj, it was again rebuilt with sturdy ‘saal’ wooden panels/planks around 1907-8 by the British. At that time it was layered with mitti-masala, surrounded with concrete brick and wooden beam. They did the masonry with ‘lakhori bridge’, shared the representative.
With time, the wood started decomposing, added the man who is responsible for physically researching and arranging for the repair material from different parts of the country.
To begin with, the work that begins at 8 a.m. and concludes by 6 p.m. has been started only in one-fourth or roughly 20 to 30 feet area of the Diwan-e-Khas roof, so as to not impact the visitors.
