New Delhi, Nov 25: Government has decided to hand over the historic Red Fort complex, at present with the army, to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Archaeological Survey of India. The complex, in toto, would be handed by Defence Minister George Fernandes to Minister for Culture and Tourism Jagmohan at a function on December 22.
Thanking Fernandes for the decision, Jagmohan told reporters that "we would now be taking various measures for full restoration, conservation and environmental upgradation of the entire Red Fort complex and to move the UNESCO for its inclusion in the list of world heritage sites".
Jagmohan also announced setting up a high level advisory-cum-supervisory committee to formulate plans for further action to be taken in the matter.
The committee headed by Prof B B Lal, former director general of ASI would suggest measures on the restoration and conservation on the historic monument, he said.
Ceremonial plague with inscription "Indian army at Red Fort 1947-2003" would also be unveiled at the complex. It would give the history of Red Fot, Indian army taking over the complex as a military garrison after independence in 1947 and handing it over to the Ministry of Tourism and Culture to facilitate restoration work of the monument.
Bureau Report