Jain Mandir also demolished for Orange Train

LAHORE

Finally the one and only Jain Mandir (Temple) situated at the junction of Old Anarkali and Punjab University Ground is no more as the building is completely demolished to construct the underground tunnel of the Orange Line Metro Train project.

Demolition of Jain Mundir and its surroundings was started some two weeks back and the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) deputed over 300 manual labourers and heavy machinery to demolish the Jain Mundir only.

About 200 labourers are still busy in demolishing the nearby houses which are coming in the way of the Orange Line Metro Train project route.

The building of Jain Mundir was demolished by angry mobs in the year 1992 and since then the remaining rooms of this three-storey temple were turned into the office of the Wasa and SWM departments while a petrol pump and some shops were also constructed at the site.

The mandir’s building was situated in the centre of the road and before 1992, the tall and cone-shaped Jain Mandir greeted the visitors.

After crossing the mundir, one can find beautiful wooden balconies of the Old Anarkali houses which are now covered with heavy dust as construction work as well as demolition work are going on.

One can also witness severe traffic jam around the Jain Mandir chowk and surrounding roads.

Locals said other than this temple, there were two other Jain temples in Lahore i.e. one inside the Bhatti Gate and the other on Ferozepur Road near Model Town but none of them now existed. They said the government should construct a model of the building at the place to keep the name alive in the minds of Lahorities.

On the other hand, the construction work of the Orange Line Metro Train project is going on in a speedy manner. Locals of the area said watching the ongoing demolition of houses was painful and seemed like someone was demolishing their memories.

One can witness a large number of people standing near the ongoing demolition of houses opposite to the Jain Mandir and Munir Ahmed is one of them who was watching the labourers breaking the thick walls of his house with big hammers.

“Though I got all the payment for giving away my house for the Orange Line Metro Train project but still it was very painful to see its demolition as all my memories including my parents, childhood and children were associated with this building which was now no more existed,” he said with tears in his eyes. Shabbir Ahmed, a NESPAK official present at the Jain Mundir site, said target of clearing this area of houses and all other buildings was two months. He said the Orange Line Train would bring a revolution in the city and after its completion those who were criticising it would congratulate the government.