Note almost ready for accord of approval by AC
*More staff to be placed at disposal of Heritage Society
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Jan 9: The Administrative Department of historic Mubarak Mandi Complex is being shifted from Tourism to Culture and a detailed note for accord of approval by the Administrative Council (AC) headed by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has almost been prepared. Moreover, additional staff will be placed at the disposal of Heritage Society for expeditious completion of ongoing works.
Vide SRO-126 dated April 26, 2005, the historic Mubarak Mandi Complex was declared as State Protected Monument as per the provisions of Ancient Monuments Preservation Act and thereafter the Directorate of Archives, Archaeology and Museums started getting the repair works of urgent nature carried out through the Tourism Department.
After the formulation of Mubarak Mandi Heritage Society, the Government vide Order No.561-GAD dated April 23, 2008 transferred the complex to the Society for management and conservation purposes only. In the absence of any dedicated manpower at its disposal even the Society started restoration works through M&W Wing of the Directorate of Tourism Jammu as such Tourism became the Administrative Department of the historic complex.
Due to this, neither the Culture Department nor the Directorate of Archives, Archaeology and Museums was ever consulted by the Society, which till date remained answerable to the Tourism Department.
Now, the Government has decided to shift the Administrative Department of Mubarak Mandi from Tourism to Culture and a detailed note in this regard for the approval of the Administrative Council headed by Lieutenant Governor has almost been prepared, official sources told EXCELSIOR.
“After shifting of Administrative Department, the R&B Department will get the restoration works of the historic complex executed as per the priorities to be reflected by the Mubarak Mandi Heritage Society in consultation with the Culture Department”, sources informed.
They further informed that while according approval for shifting of Administrative Department of Mubarak Mandi from Tourism to Culture, the Administrative Council will also place more manpower at the disposal of the Heritage Society, which at present doesn’t have sufficient officials to look after even the routine matters. The possibility of placement of some engineers at the disposal of the Mubarak Mandi Heritage Society also cannot be ruled out.
As per the Rules, the Society is having Governing Body and Executive Committee. The Governing Body has been vested with the powers vis-à-vis management of the affairs of the Society and is competent to delegate any of its power to the Executive Committee.
The Governing Body is supposed to meet at least twice in a year to transact business but the Chairman can call any extra ordinary meeting giving a notice of 24 hours at the minimum to its members. The Executive Committee is responsible for day-to-day affairs in executing its aims and objects as the Governing Body may assign to it.
All the activities of the Society are required to be carried out of the revenue received by way of funds provided by the Central Government and J&K Government, grants received from the local bodies and other institutions and concerns, money received by way of grants, donations or other contributions from members, individuals, firms, companies, corporations and organizations etc, any aid or grants in cash or kind from any national or international multilateral funding agency under the prescribed procedure and all fees and other charges, if any, received from its activities and return on investments on its funds.
It is pertinent to mention here that Lieutenant Governor has on numerous occasions directed officials to take every possible measure to ensure ongoing conservation measures of the historic complex are completed within the set timeframe.
“Mubarak Mandi is a symbol of our inherited traditions and priceless social values. Conservation efforts must reflect its true historical, artistic and aesthetic values”, the Lieutenant Governor had stated while chairing last Governing Body meeting of the Society. It was also decided in the meeting to establish a Project Management Unit for the restoration of the complex.
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