Rajasthan is facing another threat to its royal heritage due to negligence of authorities, said a report by The Times of India, dated June 27.
The havelis of Mandava in Jhunjhunu district are under a threat from local mafia who tend to demolish these buildings for constructing shops and other establishments, said the report.
The government does not have a plan to keep this piece of heritage alive. The demolition of these buildings has prevailed in the region for a long time. Most spoken about is ‘Radha Krishna Goenka Haveli’ which has been demolished recently, said the report.
The area of Mandawa has gained huge popularity due to these havelis. The flourishing tourism in the region has increased land value and may have been the reason to become the center of land mafia, said the report.
In the past few years, the havelis of Mandawa have been seen as the backdrop of the scenes of several Bollywood movies such as PK, Bajrangi Bhaijaan, and Jab We Met.
It is said that the region has been a part of the Silk route. The traders used to get protection from the local kings to sell their products in China. The wealth they got in return enabled them to construct these havelis.
The city does not have any rule to bar the local mafia from demolishing the property. Representatives of the local hotel industry told The Times of India that a state legislation should be introduced which will restrain the demolition of such buildings just like Mount Abu.
