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No Shops and Restaurants at Amber Fort Anymore
Jaipur: Rajasthan High Court, in a recent judgment, banned all the commercial activities in Amber Fort situated on a hilltop on the outskirts of the city of Jaipur. An important landmark of Rajasthan tourism, Amber Fort saw the Vasundhara Raje Government forming a special panel known as the Amer Development and Management Authority that was responsible for preservation of the fort and also granted licenses for opening shops and restaurants inside the fort premises.. The panel and the shops insides the fort - both have been termed 'illegal' by the court. The court also issued 'Show Cause' notice to the Union Tourism secretary for releasing the Central Funds of Rs 30.61 crore, presumably for the preservation, restoration and renovation of the Fort.
The judgment comes in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that had been filed earlier this year, when the Fort's wall partly fell during the shooting of the movie 'Veer' starring Salman Khan on February 13. The PIL sought ban on all commercial activities in the fort believed to be damaging to the invaluable heritage monument that attracts thousands of international tourists every year. The movie director was let off with a fine of Rs 20 lakh to make up for the damages and allowed three days to finish the shooting and pack up from the location but the shops and restaurants had to bear the heat when they were considered detrimental to the structure's robust health. The court added that the delicate work assigned to the panel needs specific precision and careful deliberation and could only be assigned to the Director of Archeology or at least a Collector with special notification issued by the State government.
After the decision the court, officials of archeology and museum departments promptly ensured to shut the shops and commercial establishments in the fort and told the award-winning artisans to abandon their courtyard as quickly as possible. The decision is a heavy blow to the burgeoning tourism industry of Rajasthan and North India as well as craftsmen and artisans who rely on their income from foreign and domestic tourists, who flock to the fort to feel its royal glory and opulence. The elephant ride up the ascent of the Amber Fort is one of the most advertised activities of royal Jaipur. The eerie look and silence of the fort is deafening in its own right as people are at a loss of how much it will affect the interest of foreign nationals coming to the fort.
Without the cafes where you can have great views of royal opulence with a cup of coffee, snack corners where you can listen on to local folklores while munching on chips and buy bottles of mineral water to combat the scorching heat of the sun, usual hustle-bustle of shops and brightly colored traditional wares of artisans, Amber Fort seems to wear a drab look even to expert guides and tour operators who have been visiting it almost on a daily basis. Deserted alleys of Amber Fort make one almost long for the basic amenities that are looked forward to by the tourists. Separate ways to enter and exit the fort and arduous climb makes difficult for people to go back to entrance point to buy water bottles, guide books and souvenirs. Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation (RTDC) is also in hot waters as it promises lunch in the royal ambience of the fort to its elite clients who board the Palace-On-Wheels and will have to arrange for an alternative venue for the tourists. |
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