By Faisal Fareed, TwoCircles.net,
Lucknow: The historical clock tower Satkhanda will soon regain its pristine glory. The Hussainabad and Allied Trust (HAT), which is the custodian of historical monuments in Lucknow has taken up the cudgel to restore the Satkhanda tower.
An expert group comprising Prof NM Bhandari, representatives of INTACH and Archeological Survey of India (ASI) is assisting the administration for restoration of Satkhanda.
However, as conceived Satkhanda will not have seven floors but the existing four floors will be restored. A dome with a brass minaret will be added on the top for aesthetic purpose.
“We have started the restoration work in 2009 and now we have reached a critical stage. Another two years and Satkhanda will be the centre of attraction,” said ADM and Secretary, HAT, OP Pathak on Wednesday.
Satkhanda was constructed by the third King of Awadh, Mohd Ali Shah in 1837. It was meant for moon sighting by the clerics as Muslims celebrate their festivals on lunar calender. However, Mohd Ali Shah died in 1842 and his descendants took the under-construction Satkhanda tower as a bad omen. No efforts were made to complete it and it was left with only four under construction floors. Slowly, with the passage of time, it was encroached and people started defacing it. A historical building was on the verge of extinction when HAT took up the onus of restoring it.
In 2008, the encroachment was removed and a boundary wall was constructed around it on the land which was left by the grabbers. The restoration work was started in July 2009. Prof NM Bhandari also inspected the building and suggested that grouting be done so that cracks do not deepen.
“We have completed the restoration work in first three floors and bracket on parapet. Work is in full swing on fourth floor. A new roof will be constructed. After this a dome on the pattern of Chota Imambara with brass minaret will be added,” said Pathak.
The total cost of restoration so far is Rs 26.40 lakhs while another 30 lakhs is expected more on the restoration which will be completed by 2013.
On 12th of this month, HAT inaugurated the historical Hussainabad Clock Tower which had gone silent 27 years after functioning for 94 years.