NEW DELHI: Two museums in the Purana Qila complex were shut from Monday to Thursday as the electricity department cut off power supply because the Archaeological Survey of India hasn’t paid bills amounting to Rs 68,030.The power supply was restored on Friday, the ASI confirmed. It was halted last weekend.The snapping of the power supply happened at a time when foreign delegations are visiting Delhi for G20 events and the city is trying to put its best foot forward. ASI’s online ticketing service also kept charging visitors for museum visits from Monday to Thursday although the facility was inaccessible.Vasant Swarnkar, a director and spokesperson for ASI, said the power supply problem had been resolved. “The electricity bill for February was paid and the connection was restored today,” he said.When asked why the ASI charged for tickets for four days when the museums were shut, he said the matter was being looked at. “We are considering revamping the entire ticketing policy to avoid such discrepancies in the future,” Swarnkar added.On Friday, when the museums are normally shut, the online portal was accepting museum visit fees from visitors.One of the museums in Purana Qila exhibits artefacts related to the history of Delhi and findings from various rounds of conducted at the Purana Qila site.The other museum is Delhi’s only gallery of confiscated and retrieved antiquities. These are articles that were found by various law enforcement agencies.The Purana Qila complex is one of Delhi’s more visited sites as the fort was the last residence of the Mughal emperor Humayun. The fort was also a shelter for refugees during the partition in 1947. The Purana Qila complex is today a venue for cultural events throughout the year.According to figures available with this paper, 167 Indians bought museum tickets on March 5 and six foreigners bought tickets on the same day.On March 6, a total 49 tickets were sold and on March 7, 51 tickets were sold. Entry tickets for Indians to the museums cost Rs 30. Foreigners are charged Rs 300.
Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/lights-out-at-purana-qila-museums-over-unpaid-bills/articleshow/98553383.cms
