Forthcoming monsoon season will lead to further delay
Even consultancy service for execution of projects not engaged
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, June 25: Even after the approval of the Executive Committee headed by the Chief Secretary, the restoration of 35 heritage sites in Jammu and Kashmir has not begun due to slackness on the part of the Department of Archives, Archaeology and Museum. Moreover, the forthcoming monsoon season will lead to further delay in start of work as rains weaken the already crumbling structures.
The Executive Committee constituted vide Government Order No.863-JK(GAD) dated September 8, 2021 for implementation of the Scheme for Revival, Restoration, Preservation and Maintenance of Architecture and Heritage in Jammu and Kashmir met on April 8, 2022 to take decision on several important aspects.
Headed by Chief Secretary, the Executive Committee accorded approval for the execution of 35 projects—17 in Kashmir division and 18 in Jammu division in the first phase of the scheme after fulfilling requisite codal formalities in a transparent manner.
The approval was also given to the hiring of heritage consultancy services by the Directorate of Archives, Archaeology and Museums for efficient and expeditious execution of these projects. Further, the Chief Secretary directed that the executing agency should complete the tendering process as soon as possible so that the work on the projects/monuments is started well in time.
However, till date the much-needed restoration work on any of these 35 sites has not been started for the reasons best known to those at the helm of affairs in the Directorate of Archives, Archaeology and Museums, official sources told EXCELSIOR.
“The work is unlikely to begin now as during the monsoon season it is not advisable to carry out any sort of restoration work on the sites which are already crumbling. Fiddling with such structures during rains amounts to causing further damage”, they said, adding “during the past two months even heritage consultancy service has not been hired by the Directorate of Archives, Archaeology and Museums although this was the primary step to ensure efficient and effective execution of work”.
They further said, “if this is the approach towards 35 heritage sites approved by the Execution Committee for restoration work what would be fate of remaining 115 sites, which are also in the dire need of restoration, can be easily gauged”, adding “because of constant dilly-dallying approach no benefit of much hyped scheme approved by the Administration Council in the middle of last year could not be achieved till date”.
Besides restoration work, the Directorate of Archives, Archaeology and Museums is also required to ensure implementation of short term plans which include landscaping, approach road, lighting, information boards, signages and public amenities etc.
In Jammu, the heritage sites which have been approved for start of restoration work are Jaffer Chak Masjid, Sumah Temple Akhnoor, Gurdwara Sundar Singh, Thein Fort, Jaggannath Temple near Jasrota Fort, Hanuman Temple near Jasrota Fort, Jasmergarh Fort at Jhandi in Hiranagar, Ghoda Gali Gool, Salal Fort at Batal Gala, Barood Khana at Salal Fort, Bamuchak temple, Mohergarh Fort, Krimchi Fort, Jaganu Fort, Charai Muttal and Ladden Kotli Fort.
The heritage sites which have been selected for restoration work in the first phase in Kashmir valley are Batamaloo Sahib Shrine, Temple at Ganpatyar Srinagar, shrine of Syed Mohammad Hussain Mazandarani Chattabal, Mangleshwar Bhairav Asthapan Temple, Ram Mandir Safakadal Srinagar, Saint Mary’s Church at Gulmarg, Ferozpur Drung at Tangmarg, Chaturmukhlinga at Sheeri, Sukh Nag Spring and Temple at Pattan, ancient temple at Dever Pattan, historic Masjid Khankhi Awal at Tangmarg, Ziyarat Sharief at Darbari Younsiya in Kupwara, Devibal Temple in Anantnag and Ziyarat Sharief Resh Moul Sahib in Anantnag.
It is worthwhile to mention here that the scheme was approved by the Administrative Council headed by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on noticing that in spite of having strong significance, several religious and historic monuments in Jammu and Kashmir are battling for their existence and identity.
The objectives behind the scheme can be achieved only when all the concerned agencies work in coordinated manner and free flow of funds is ensured.
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