Debris Cleared Near Delhi’s Historic Gumti After SC Rebuke

02 Sep 2025 CW Team

Following strong remarks by the Supreme Court over the poor upkeep of the Lodhi-era Gumti of Shaikh Ali in south Delhi’s Defence Colony, significant cleanup efforts were undertaken by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). A site visit revealed that a large portion of the construction waste and debris around the monument has now been removed.

The unauthorised occupation of the historic gumti structure by the local Residents’ Welfare Association (RWA) was cleared in compliance with court orders. Additionally, peripheral land previously encroached upon by the MCD has also been vacated.

“There was a lot of construction waste piled up until Thursday. After the Supreme Court's criticism, workers were seen on-site late that evening, and most of the debris was cleared,” said Bhavreen Kandhari, a local resident and environmental activist.

She added, “Of course, two months of neglect cannot be resolved overnight. Drainage issues remain—rainwater still accumulates here, and the recently vacated land needs proper levelling. Hopefully, these will be addressed in the next phase of redevelopment.”

Restoration of the gumti itself is ongoing. The monument has been officially handed over to the Delhi government’s archaeology department for conservation.

According to an official on-site, parts of the monument—including the dome, walls, and floor—have already undergone some level of repair. “A traditional mixture of lime, urad dal, bel paani, jaggery, and surkhi is being used to restore damaged wall sections. Work on the dome has also commenced,” the official noted.

On Friday, a tarpaulin sheet covered the dome as a temporary monsoon safeguard. Final restoration of the dome will resume post-monsoon.

The incident has highlighted the urgent need for better coordination between civic bodies and heritage departments in preserving Delhi’s architectural legacy, particularly in densely populated urban areas like Defence Colony.

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