FAISALABAD, April 20: The famous clock tower of Faisalabad, which has been a city landmark and an emblem of excellence in town planning and layout, was a centre of attention and attraction during the current seven-day centenary celebrations. Big crowds were seen around it and the surrounding eight bazaars.

The idea and plan of the construction of the clock tower was conceived 102 years ago by the then deputy commissioner of Jhang, Captain Burley, to commemorate the long reign of Queen Victoria. The foundation stone of this historical landmark of the British period was laid on Nov 4, 1903, by Sir Charles Pewaz, the then governor of Punjab.

The plaque of the foundation stone was prepared by metal art experts of Madras, Chennai, Yangon and Colombo. The work of installation of the epitaphs symbolizing perpetuation of the British rule around the clock tower and other prominent parts of the city were started at a fast pace by Teeny Kevin after his appointment as governor for the second time.

The layout of the eight bazaars around the clock tower modelled after the Union Jack was also finalized.

As the story goes, there used to be a beautiful park at the centre point of the eight bazaars and a well in the middle of the park. The site of the well had been selected for constructing the clock tower. The filling of the well took weeks. The earth for the filling was collected from the land of Ram Dewali.

Red sand stone was obtained from the hills of Sangla. Expert sculptors installed big blocks of red sand stone after proper dressing and sizing them.

Expert carpenters were also involved in the construction and beautification of the tower. Big wooden planks were installed without being saw-cut into nets and fixed in the doors and windows of the tower. The work started on Nov 14, 1903, and was completed in Dec, 1905.

Sir Lion Toper, the then finance commissioner, performed the formal inauguration of the clock tower in the presence of hundreds of citizens of Lyallpur by stepping onto the balcony of the tower.

It is said that there used to be a beautiful gardens outside each bazaar, which have long disappeared because of the population explosion seen by Faisalabad. The glamour and radiance of the first historical monument of Lyallpur has long started fading owing to age and wear and tear.

On Nov 14, 2003, exactly after a hundred years of the construction of the tower, the stairs leading to the balcony were demolished by the local administration, probably for installing a security system. The security system was later shifted to a nearby hotel reportedly. The local police and the CPLC, despite repeated orders of the Tehsil Municipal Administration (city) did not restore the broken stairs.

Not only the stairs, but also the whole edifice has suffered because of a lack of attention, and apathy shown by successive local governments. Cracks have appeared in the walls of the tower. The nettings have been broken, and birds have made nests in the roof. The pedestal on which the clock tower was erected has also crumbled.

The wood and iron grills, which extend along the stairs from ground to the top, are now in a derelict state. Plaster at places has worn out and gaps have appeared in the cemented ventilators.

What made the monument look imposing was the fact that the buildings around the clock tower were not allowed to be more than thirty feet high. With the passage of time, scores of high-rise buildings have appeared, violating the law and dwarfing the grandeur of this heritage monument.

The legendary clock tower which it once used to be can no longer be seen from far and wide. A number of citizens who have seen the clock tower in all its old grandeur have time and again expressed concern over the apathy shown by the authorities concerned, but in vain.

Wonderful, however, is the look of beauty and radiance of the clock tower at night when it stands gracefully lit up as part of the city’s centenary celebrations. Thank goodness for little mercies.