DSS demands release of funds for Mubarak Mandi restoration work

Dogra Sadar Sabha Core Committee members during visit to Mubarak Mandi.
Dogra Sadar Sabha Core Committee members during visit to Mubarak Mandi.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 18: Dogra Sadar Sabha Core Committee, led by Th Gulchain Singh Charak, President of the Sabha and former Minister, today conducted a visit to the Mubarak Mandi Heritage complex to review the ongoing restoration and conservation works.
During the visit, the Core Committee members held a meeting with the officials of Mubarak Mandi Jammu Heritage Society and took stock of the situation about the conservation and restoration works in the heritage Complex. They expressed deep concern over the deteriorating condition of roof of the building where Archives have been stored, which has been suffering from leaks due to recent rains posing a significant threat to the invaluable records stored there.
According to a press release, issued by DSS, the officials of Mubarak Mandi Jammu Heritage Society clarified that the Govt has not yet released any funds out of Rs 40 crore which was announced by the Lt Governor, thus severely affecting the ongoing restoration works. They also mentioned that some of the executing agencies have also left the restoration work in midway in the heritage complex.
The Sabha President demanded that work on all the remaining heritage buildings and structures in the complex which included iconic buildings like the Rani Charak Mahal, Rani Bandral Mahal, Sheesh Mahal, Gole Ghar and others be also taken up at the earliest. He stressed upon the need to fix a time line for completion of the works on the conservation and reuse proposals for the entire complex, as envisaged in the approved Master Plan, so that the people of the UT can avail of its social, cultural and economic benefits.
Later the core committee members held a meeting with Director Archives, Archaeology & Museums, Jammu, Raj Kumar Katoch and Assistant Director Archives Archaeology and Museums Jammu Sangeeta Sharma expressed resentment against slow pace of the ongoing works. The Core Group members urged the Government to release funds as announced by the Lt Governor.
Prominent among others who visited the complex, included Col (Retd) Karan Singh, Maj Gen (Retd) Sunita Kapoor, Abdul Majid, Gambhir Dev Singh Charak, Brig (Retd) M S Jamwal, Chhattar Singh, Ravi Singh, Jagdeep Singh, Khajur Singh, Chhankar Singh, Pawan Sharma, Rajinder Gupta, Namandeep Singh, Sat Pal Thapa, Sub. Kehar Singh, Rajeev and Dr Vidya Sagar Sharma.