Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Jan 25: The Sub-Committee of the Union Ministry of Culture will visit Srinagar and Jammu by the end of this month for technical guidance to the project executing agencies in the run up to formal release of Central funds for the undergoing renovation and up-gradation of J&K’s premier cultural infrastructure, Tagore Hall and Abhinav Theatre.
This follows a meeting Secretary J&K Academy of Art, Culture & Languages, Khalid Bashir Ahmad had with Joint Secretary, Union Ministry for Culture, Pramod Jain, during which the former underscored the need and requested for early visit of the Sub-Committee to the twin capital cities of the State.
He also discussed possibilities of Central funding for the multi-crore cultural centre, Tehzeeb Mahal, the foundation stone of which was laid by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah at Srinagar on Tuesday. It was agreed that the Academy would submit a proposal along with Detailed Project Report of the Tehzeeb Mahal for financial assistance by the Union Ministry for Culture.
The visit of the Sub-Committee is pending since February 2012 when the Central Government had agreed, in principle, to fund 60 percent of the cost of the renovation and up-gradation projects for Tagore Hall and Abhinav Theatre. The Sub-Committee had to discuss project preparation on the site and guide project staff. However, the visit could not materialise so far.
Jain assured that the visit of the Sub-Committee will take place by the end of the current month. He also assured of full support of his Ministry in promoting cultural activities in Jammu & Kashmir and asked the State Government to take advantage of various assistance schemes run by the Ministry. He also called for preservation of intangible heritage of which J&K had a rich tradition.
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