*Simultaneous restoration to be major point of agenda
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, June 18: Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed is going to take several important decisions aimed at gearing up restoration work on crumbling Mubarak Mandi heritage complex in the Governing Body meeting of Mubarak Mandi Heritage Society, which is being convened tomorrow after a gap of one and half year. Moreover, several vital matters, which are pending for decision during the past quite long time, would also get approval of the Governing Body and help in restoring vanished grandeur of this Dogra heritage.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that the Governing Body of the Mubarak Mandi Heritage Society, which is authorized to take major policy decisions vis-à-vis restoration of historic Mubarak Mandi heritage complex, had last met on December 6, 2013 under the chairmanship of the then Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah and thereafter no focus was ever laid on convening another meeting despite the fact that several important issues were pending for its approval.
Now, after one and half year the meeting of the Governing Body is being convened tomorrow under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed to take decision on important aspects relating to gearing up restoration work on the historic complex, whose major portion is still crumbling because of many reasons including delay in decision on simultaneous restoration of entire complex.
It is pertinent to mention here that Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed during his visit to the Mubarak Mandi heritage complex on April 23 had taken keen interest in understanding the issues, which create hurdles in gearing up restoration work. While visiting Gallery and Assembly Halls, where the restoration work was under-way, the Chief Minister had directed the executing agency to complete the works within the stipulated time-frame.
Sources in the Mubarak Mandi Heritage Society told EXCELSIOR that Governing Body would take decision on restoration/preservation of Central Courtyard (Deewane-Aam), proposal for simultaneous restoration of entire complex, signing of maintenance contract with Archaeological Survey of India for restored buildings and setting up of a new museum and up-gradation of Dogra Art Museum. Moreover, the Governing Body would review the action taken on the decisions of 5th Governing Body meeting.
They informed that INTACH had prepared Detailed Project Report for restoration of 25 buildings in the year 2008 at the estimated cost of Rs 235 crore. “If the restoration work is carried at the present pace then it will take many-many years for full restoration as such the Governing Body would take decision on taking up the issue of funding of simultaneous restoration of entire complex with the Government of India”, sources said.
“There is also a proposal that if the Government of India doesn’t agree for simultaneous funding of entire Mubarak Mandi Complex, at least Gole Ghar be taken as a Special Project because structure of Gole Ghar is one of the oldest buildings of the complex and it is in dilapidated condition and needs immediate attention for restoration of its pristine glory”, sources further informed.
About restoration of Central Courtyard (Deewane-Aam), sources said that this huge platform in the centre of the park of the Mubarak Mandi Heritage Complex was constructed for the coronation of Maharaja Hari Singh in the year 1925 and in the month of March 2014 some non-official members planned its reshaping and remodeling despite the fact that nobody had the mandate to reshape and remodel the heritage structures.
The contractors, who were entrusted this task, caused plunder of Deewane-Aam because they had no knowledge or experience of working on heritage buildings and keeping in view public resentment, the work was stopped in the month of August 2014. “Now, the Governing Body will take decision on the proposal to take up the issue with Director General, ASI for the restoration of Central Courtyard to its pristine glory”, sources said while disclosing that early decision is imperative because demolishing of top layer of pedestal of Central Courtyard is causing erosion to the structure.
The Governing Body would also take decision on signing of maintenance contract with the ASI for restored buildings and placement of funds for the purpose, sources said while disclosing that due to weather and various other factors erosion in the restored buildings is being observed continuously.
“Chief Minister is also likely to make announcement about taking up with the Government of India the issue of early sanctioning of the projects for setting up of new museum and up-gradation of Dogra Art Museum”, sources said. The project reports in this regard were prepared for an amount of Rs 6.3 crore and Rs 5.5 crore respectively in the year 2009.
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