Heritage under siege - Rare Pathan-era gumbad now at the mercy of vandals & squatters

NEW DELHI: When you go to wards Lodhi Road from the Subz Burj roundabout in Nizamuddin, you might spot on the right a large dome peeking from behind buildings. That's the Do Siriya Gumbad, a rare monument from the Lodhiera, now struggling to survive amid attacks from encroachers.
Another monument nearby--the Gol Gumbad-has similar architecture and design, and historians believe the two formed part of the same complex once upon a time.But Gol Gumbad was conserved by Delhi's department of archaeology during the Commonwealth Games in 2010, but this one was left to fend for itself.Experts now fear it may not stand the test of time for much longer with more and more buildings coming up around it.
Do Siriya Gumbad has been occupied by a family for many years who do not allow visitors to inspect the site or even take pictures.While once the area around the gumbad was an open, lush green area, locals from Nizamuddin Basti today have occupied every inch of available space. In fact, the open space once abutting the monument was also taken over by an adjacent hotel about three years ago, and the walls of the southern facade of the tomb have been partially demolished to widen the narrow street.
Conservationists say that until a few years ago, this monument was clearly visible from Lodhi Road. Used as a private residence today , a lot of the original architectural integrity of the monument has disappeared and one can see cracks on the facade and brick masonry topping the original surface.
Overlooked by the Archaeological Survey of India and Delhi archaeology department, Do Siriya Gumbad was listed as a heritage building by the erstwhile MCD.With the main conservation agencies looking the other way , the monument became fair game from squatters.
To salvage the monument, conservationists say that the family residing inside it needs to be relocated, and action needs to be taken against the guest house and other structures built illegally around it.