Wastes float on the water in the tank at Sher Shah Suri’s tomb in Sasaram. Picture by Nagendra Kumar Singh

Sasaram, Nov. 23: Sher Shah Suri tomb, at around 165km from Patna, has fallen to disrepair because of neglect and exposure to pollution.

Some parts of the monument have also been encroached upon.

The tank’s water has turned acidic and is posing a serious threat to the tomb.

The state government has applied to UNESCO to accord World Heritage Site status to the tomb but the tomb has turned into a dumping ground as city garbage is thrown into this historical tank.

The guard of the tomb, Tija Ram said: “Pollution in the water tank of the tomb will destroy the building materials and weaken the structure. The tank’s depth has decreased alarmingly over the past two decades. Though the district authorities has banned discharge of polluted water, immersion of idols and bathing in the tank, people still repeat the same mistake again and again. Police have arrested people for bathing in the tank as well.”

He further said: “The ban was imposed by Patna High Court to preserve the monument after the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) warned of the threats to the tomb as the tank’s water had turned acidic, and the water level had gone down.”

Patna High Court has directed the assistant and the Rohtas district administration to take measures to preserve the monument.

The historical tomb was declared a national heritage under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act (1958). The ASI took it for preservation and protection in 1938. Sher Shah (1472-1545) was also known as Sher Khan or the Lion King.

Though his empire was short-lived, from 1539 to 1545, he left a fairly deep imprint in history.

A visitor, Sunil Singh, said: “Dirt and filth have become common at this tomb these days. Unfortunately, this location has turned into a breeding centre for rodents, cockroaches, mosquitoes and flies. A foul smell emanates from each side of the tomb. Dumping of garbage is causing much hardship for people who come to spend time over here, as the ticket price is just Rs 5. The main problem is the smell of water, which makes it difficult to roam around. Sometimes, I use a handkerchief to avoid the smell.”

The gate keeper at the tomb said: “Sometimes it is cleaned but most of the time visitors avoid coming this place due to the unbearable stench. I don’t like to stand here but there is no other option as it is my job. The filth is a great ecological threat to the tomb.”

He also said: “Immersion of idols, washing of clothes and bathing in the tank has polluted the water. The district administration has not taken adequate steps to preserve the tomb and solve the problem of encroachment. It has also not done anything to reduce the pollution of the area surrounding the monument.”

An ASI official, on the condition of anonymity, said: “According to ASI guidelines, no construction can be allowed within a 100-metre radius of a historical monument as well as construction beyond a certain height within a radius of 200m. However, the rules have been violated time and again over here.”

Sources said the tourism department plans to beautify and to open a hotel and cafeteria on the tomb premises.