Redlands : Restoration/reconstruction work kept in cold storage

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jan 9 : Even months after the historic Manipur Rajbari in Shillong's Redlands was demolished in October last year, the planned reconstruction/restoration project has not moved an inch.
The authorities concerned haven't yet decided  whether the Rajbari would be "reconstructed" or "restored", and the Planning and Development Authority (PDA) of the Government of Manipur has allegedly refused to implement the project, said a reliable source familiar with the development.
The Manipur Rajbari in Shillong's Redlands was where the Manipur Merger Agreement was signed between Maharaja Bodh-chandra and VP Menon, Advisor to Government of India, on September 21, 1949.
This decades-old building was demolished on October 8, 2025, courting widespread criticisms.
The Planning and Development Authority (PDA) had then justified the demolition saying the structure was dilapidated, and it was done for "reconstruction".
The State Government later formed a monitoring and supervision committee on October 13, 2025 to oversee the reconstruction/restoration work of the Rajbari.
Now, our source said the Planning and Development Authority (PDA) has, about a month ago, written to the Art and Culture Department refusing to implement the "reconstruction/restoration" project.
In addition, the "Monitoring and Supervision Committee for Reconstruction/ Restoration of Historic Manipur Rajbari Building" has made no headway, and is suspected to be lying dormant, added the source.
"While the detailed project report (DPR) is about reconstruction/restoration, the authorities are not yet clear whether it would precisely be a reconstruction or a restoration project. The decision has not been made," said the source.
The monitoring and supervision committee has also been silent, added the source.
The ambiguity in the nature of the project and the committee's dormancy may have driven the PDA to write to the Art and Culture Department and refuse the project. But, the exact reason is not known, continued the source.
"The PDA can carry out reconstruction but not restoration," added the source.
Until a precise decision about the nature of the work is taken, the project may not move forward, said the source.
It may be noted that the demolition of the Manipur Rajbari was widely condemned and termed as "erasing" the State's history by citizens, civil bodies and academicians alike.
Facing severe criticisms, the Government had formed the monitoring and supervision committee, and tasked it to oversee the reconstruction/restoration project and preserve the original features of the Rajbari.
The committee was tasked to retain the original architectural design of the Rajbari by referring to historical records including photographs, and use original materials in the reconstruction whenever feasible.
It was tasked to consult heritage conservation experts for the project.
The committee was also entrusted with the task to oversee procurement of materials for construction of the building, including an exhibition hall and a gallery.