This Lodi era Gumti is an octagonal tomb which was built during the Lodi period more than 500 years back at this location. The Supreme Court recently directed the CBI to conduct a preliminary enquiry to find out how the Gumti of Sheikh Ali at Defence colony was occupied by DCWA. As we all know that our RWA has been functioning at this Gumbad for the last few decades and there have been objections from various authorities including the archeological survey of India and others from time to time. Few facts which may be useful to understand the stories of both sides to come to some conclusions:
• This so- called Gumti was abandoned long time back at this location and when Defence colony was getting built, the initial residents used it as a place to meet up as it was in the center of the colony and some shade was available to meet and greet each other to initiate the various facilities like roads, water, electricity, etc.
• As it was near the planned market, of the colony as per the map, these residents got it cleaned, repaired (as done for any chaupal) and created a place to sit, discuss and execute various activities. After a few years, even the electricity and water connections were allotted to the Gumbad and the RWA has been paying the bills for many years.
• When approx. 100 plots were built, the residents created the RWA for the colony and was allocated a land for the RWA and club near the central nallaha in the C block. Almost 50% of this land was taken over by a school and ashram after few years due to unknown reasons.
• The land around the Gumbad was later taken over by the MCD for the parking of cars and given to the contractors on yearly basis. This resulted in a mess for the residents who are now paying for the parking as and when they visit to the market for their day- to -day needs like grocery, medicines, stationery etc. MCD is earning huge money from the parking contractors who are using this place to park cars for Kotla people who keep them parked for months and the residents never get any parking space. Even to visit the local RWA office, the residents are paying the parking fee.
• As per the residents, the DCWA has sufficient space for the club as well as RWA office at the C-600 plot which is currently used only for the club. The Gumbad has very less space for any meetings with the RWA or to even conduct their EC meetings due to shortage of space and facilities like catering etc.
• There are a few residents who keep going to the court to challenge the office of RWA in the old monument occupied by the RWA for their office. Their plea is simply to vacate this old monument and establish a better and spacious office in the DCWA club or at the sports complex and be away from any controversy or court orders.
• As the matter is now in the court, the RWA is also spending money to fight it out in their favor. The residents’ money would be spent in these court cases but are these long-term arrangements for a five-decade old RWA?
• RWA is already struggling with so many civic and other issues like poor roads, lights, parks, sewers, backlanes, security and what not !! Spending time energy and money on this 200 SQF of land in an old monument is justified or not?? These are the questions in the minds of our residents who are more concerned about basic issues rather than indulging into this Gumti issue!!
As the matter is sub-judice and will be under investigation by the CBI, we at Samvada are only highlighting the facts as per the feedback of the residents who are divided in their views to use the Gumbad or not. We leave it to the CBI and honorable Supreme court to take the necessary decision and action in the future as per law. We will keep updating our readers as and when we get any details on this issue.
