Guwahati: With outrage over demolition of Manipur Rajbari in Shillong, Manipur government on Monday stated that the demolition was done to take up the comprehensive development of a heritage site. The government stated that a comprehensive project for the "Infrastructure Development of Heritage Complex, Rajbari, Shillong" is being taken up.
Students’ bodies and many Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) condemned the demolition of Shillong’s iconic Redlands Buildings, also called Manipuri Rajbari.
According to the historians, the Manipur Merger Agreement was signed on September 21, 1949, between Maharaja Bodhachandra Singh and representatives of the Union of India in the historic Redlands Building, constructed in the 1940s in Meghalayan capital Shillong.
After the merger agreement, the erstwhile princely state of Manipur merged with the Indian Union in October 1949.
The Redlands Building was once the Shillong residence of the erstwhile king Maharaja Bodhachandra Singh.
Manipur government stated in this regard, a Detailed Project Report (DPR) was prepared by the Planning and Development Authority (PDA), Manipur. The DPR was submitted to the North Eastern Council (NEC), Government of India for approval and funding. The DPR was approved by NEC in July, 2023. The DPR had two components, Construction of Guest House and Reconstruction/ Restoration of Exhibition Hall/Gallery.
Manipur government stated that it had come to notice of the State Government that the Rajbari Building was very old and in a dilapidated condition due to weathering and termite infestation. The second component i.e. Reconstruction/ Restoration of Exhibition Hall/Gallery, was therefore, taken up.
Both components of the work "Infrastructure Development at Heritage Complex, Rajbari, Shillong" were awarded to Meitei Construction Ltd in 2023. The first component, Construction of Guest House was started in April, 2024 which is almost complete.
"Thereafter, Meitei Construction Ltd started the work on the second component. As a first step, dismantling of a dilapidated part of the building was taken up. However, there was an apprehension that the remaining part of the building may collapse due to instability and weakness of the structural elements. Hence dismantling of the whole structure was necessitated and done manually with due care. The dismantled structures like wooden doors, windows and wall plates etc. have been properly stacked and stored for re-use. The old structure has been properly documented by taking photographs and videography. The work on the site of the historic building has been completely stopped now", the statement stated
The government stated 'Monitoring and Supervision Committee' for reconstruction/ restoration of historic Manipur Rajbari Building, Shillong has been constituted. The Committee will monitor and supervise the work as per the prescribed Terms of Reference to ensure strict adherence to the original architectural design, historical features, and dimensions, as per the historical records and photographs of the original structure and materials recovered from the original building shall be used. The Committee may engage or co-opt heritage conservation experts to ensure the maintenance of the aesthetic integrity and heritage value of the historic structure.
The student bodies, including Manipur Students’ Federation (MSF), Democratic Students’ Alliance of Manipur (DESAM), All India Manipuri Students’ (AIMS), cautioned authorities against actions that undermine the heritage and political identity of the erstwhile nation.
Hijam Roshan, co-convenor of the six-student body alliance, stated the Manipur government’s Planning and Development Authority’s (PDA) clarification that the proposal for renovation or construction of a replica of the Redlands Building had been approved by the North Eastern Council (NEC) in July 2023.
He questioned why the Arts and Culture Department of the state government remained silent on the matter despite its national importance and state’s heritage.
Roshan said categorically said that the student bodies will not let this go unchallenged. He raised concerns about a possible hidden agenda behind the demolition of the heritage structure and vowed that the students’ organisations would continue to demand accountability.
The student bodies called for transparency in decision-making related to heritage sites and urged the government to respect and preserve Manipur’s historical and political legacy.
Despite repeated appeals from heritage groups and former Union Minister Minister of state for External Affairs and Education, Dr. Rajkumar Ranjan Singh to preserve the site, the building was torn down, reportedly to make way for a new Manipur Bhavan.
Students’ bodies and many Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) condemned the demolition of Shillong’s iconic Redlands Buildings, also called Manipuri Rajbari.
According to the historians, the Manipur Merger Agreement was signed on September 21, 1949, between Maharaja Bodhachandra Singh and representatives of the Union of India in the historic Redlands Building, constructed in the 1940s in Meghalayan capital Shillong.
After the merger agreement, the erstwhile princely state of Manipur merged with the Indian Union in October 1949.
The Redlands Building was once the Shillong residence of the erstwhile king Maharaja Bodhachandra Singh.
Manipur government stated in this regard, a Detailed Project Report (DPR) was prepared by the Planning and Development Authority (PDA), Manipur. The DPR was submitted to the North Eastern Council (NEC), Government of India for approval and funding. The DPR was approved by NEC in July, 2023. The DPR had two components, Construction of Guest House and Reconstruction/ Restoration of Exhibition Hall/Gallery.
Manipur government stated that it had come to notice of the State Government that the Rajbari Building was very old and in a dilapidated condition due to weathering and termite infestation. The second component i.e. Reconstruction/ Restoration of Exhibition Hall/Gallery, was therefore, taken up.
Both components of the work "Infrastructure Development at Heritage Complex, Rajbari, Shillong" were awarded to Meitei Construction Ltd in 2023. The first component, Construction of Guest House was started in April, 2024 which is almost complete.
"Thereafter, Meitei Construction Ltd started the work on the second component. As a first step, dismantling of a dilapidated part of the building was taken up. However, there was an apprehension that the remaining part of the building may collapse due to instability and weakness of the structural elements. Hence dismantling of the whole structure was necessitated and done manually with due care. The dismantled structures like wooden doors, windows and wall plates etc. have been properly stacked and stored for re-use. The old structure has been properly documented by taking photographs and videography. The work on the site of the historic building has been completely stopped now", the statement stated
The government stated 'Monitoring and Supervision Committee' for reconstruction/ restoration of historic Manipur Rajbari Building, Shillong has been constituted. The Committee will monitor and supervise the work as per the prescribed Terms of Reference to ensure strict adherence to the original architectural design, historical features, and dimensions, as per the historical records and photographs of the original structure and materials recovered from the original building shall be used. The Committee may engage or co-opt heritage conservation experts to ensure the maintenance of the aesthetic integrity and heritage value of the historic structure.
The student bodies, including Manipur Students’ Federation (MSF), Democratic Students’ Alliance of Manipur (DESAM), All India Manipuri Students’ (AIMS), cautioned authorities against actions that undermine the heritage and political identity of the erstwhile nation.
Hijam Roshan, co-convenor of the six-student body alliance, stated the Manipur government’s Planning and Development Authority’s (PDA) clarification that the proposal for renovation or construction of a replica of the Redlands Building had been approved by the North Eastern Council (NEC) in July 2023.
He questioned why the Arts and Culture Department of the state government remained silent on the matter despite its national importance and state’s heritage.
Roshan said categorically said that the student bodies will not let this go unchallenged. He raised concerns about a possible hidden agenda behind the demolition of the heritage structure and vowed that the students’ organisations would continue to demand accountability.
The student bodies called for transparency in decision-making related to heritage sites and urged the government to respect and preserve Manipur’s historical and political legacy.
Despite repeated appeals from heritage groups and former Union Minister Minister of state for External Affairs and Education, Dr. Rajkumar Ranjan Singh to preserve the site, the building was torn down, reportedly to make way for a new Manipur Bhavan.
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