Bylaws have been made for the 480-year-old tomb of Sher Shah Suri, an Afghan king who ruled parts of north India, to help the authorities resolve the problem of protecting the monument in Bihar’s Sasaram, and developing the locality in its vicinity at the same time.
The National Monuments Authority (NMA) has enacted the legislation after obtaining objections and suggestions from various stakeholders of the memorial of the Afghan ruler, who was also known for his exceptional administrative skill.
Built between 1540 and 1545 CE, the tomb stands in the middle of an artificial lake at Sasaram, a historical town in the south-western district of the state. Designed by Mir Muhammad Aliwal Khan, it is popularly referred to as the ‘second Taj Mahal of India’.
According to experts, the bye-law will bridge the gap between managing the ambient environment near a protected site and the requirements of the populace inhabiting the immediate vicinity of such monuments.
It is expected that with a site-specific bye-law, common people as well as administrative and local stakeholders would find it easy to meet their construction, repair and other development-related requirements.
However, according to the bylaw, new constructions should be in harmony with the existing architectural style and compatible with the surrounding historic character and streetscapes.