LAHORE, Jan 27: The roof of Shish Mahal may not be restored to its original state because a major deflection has taken place on it due to lack of any conservation work for long.

Experts, who are currently engaged in the restoration of the Shish Mahal, told this reporter on Tuesday that the work was being undertaken to stabilize the ceiling instead of making any effort to straighten it out. "Any attempt to restore the roof will further damage it," they added.

They believed that the roof might have been conserved fully if some restoration work was initiated about 30 years ago. "The only conservation work done by the government during the last 50 years is the placement of a scaffolding in 1998 to protect it from further damage. However, this temporary structure has enabled the experts to examine the roof thoroughly."

Explaining the state of the roof, they said its beams had been extensively damaged because of termite attack, detachment in the lime mortar and continuous dampness due to rainwater. Besides, they said, the original wooden slags had also been affected by termite.

Unesco regional director Yasmin Lari told Dawn that the local and foreign experts had decided not to straighten the roof fearing it might damage decorative features of the unique structure.

"Efforts, therefore, are being made to stabilize the ceiling in its existing location." However, she said, a steel mesh would be placed on top of the ceiling to protect the existing structure.

Ms Lari said the documentation of cement mortar, analysis of the existing rainwater drainage system and structural analysis had been completed. Besides, stucco tracery work and cleaning of marble and mirrors had been done.

However, the chemical treatment for eradication of termite, especially in timber beams, restoration of aiynakari (mirror work) from underside and Sikh-period rooms adjacent to Shish Mahal, and the water-proofing of the entire structure would be completed by June.

She said the renovation had been undertaken in the light of all Mughal and British wooden beams' documentation prepared by the Shish Mahal Conservation Committee. "Application of mortar, she said, had been carefully handled to create a proper bond with the original layer."

While applying gypsum mortar, she said the gaps were being created to allow inspection in case of any de-bonding of the new and old layers. The Norwegian government had provided the federal archaeology department with $900,000 for the conservation of Shish Mahal and the Lahore Fort's drainage system.

Situated in the northwest corner of the fort, Shish Mahal is one of the unique and most profusely decorated places of the Mughal period. Built by Asif Khan for Emperor Shah Jahan in 1631-32, it formed the harem of the fort. It consists of spacious and lofty hall in front and several rooms behind and on either side of it.

The main decorative features of Shish Mahal include ainakari or convex glass mosaic with munnabat kari or stucco tracery; gilt work; pietra-dura work specially in the spandrels of the arches; the marble screen of extraordinary beauty and perfection skillfully carved in geometrical and tendril designs.

There are traces indicating that the chambers were originally decorated with gilding and fresco paintings. The floor of the spacious courtyard in front of the hall is paved with stone slabs in a variety of marbles such as Sang-i-Badal, Sang-i-Abri, Sang-i-Musa and Sang-i-Khattu in the centre of the courtyard.