Issues likely to be flagged in review meeting of CS
*Forest clearance pending for restoration work on 2 sites
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Mar 24: Encroachments inside several State Protected Monuments in different parts of Jammu region are yet to be removed even after repeated requests by the Directorate of Archives, Archaeology and Museums to the concerned agencies and district authorities. Moreover, forest clearance is awaited for the restoration work on two heritage sites during the past several months.
Now, all these issues are likely to be flagged in the review meeting of the Culture Department to be taken by the Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on March 28 so that pristine glory of these State Protected Monuments is restored before further damage to their structures.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that illegal constructions inside Shahi Mughal Masjid in Nowshera area of Rajouri district are continuously taking place and no action has been taken on the repeated requests of the Directorate of Archives, Archaeology and Museums to the concerned authorities in the district.
No construction activity can take place inside Shahi Mughal Masjid as it was declared State Protected Monument vide SRO 441 dated July 17, 1986, they said while disclosing that due to illegal constructions vast portion of the heritage site has already suffered extensive damage.
Moreover, there are numerous encroachments in the shape of shops and kiosks just outside the Poonch Fort, which was declared State Protected Monument vide SRO 17 dated January 19, 2012. Actually, the road leading to this heritage site is encroached up to large extent but serious efforts have not been made till date by the concerned authorities in the district administration to remove the same, sources informed.
The most astonishing aspect is that Dhanidhar Fort in Rajouri district, which is also a State Protected Monument since January 17, 2011, cannot be visited even by the officials of Directorate of Archives and Archaeology because it is under the control of security forces, which despite numerous requests even from the Rajouri district administration, have refused to vacate the heritage site.
“There are also encroachments in the premises of Temple Samadhi Chadai Muttal in Udhampur district, which was declared State Protected Monument vide SRO 441 dated July 17, 1986. Moreover, certain illegal constructions have also been noticed inside Bahu Fort”, they informed.
In respect of Jaganoo Fort and Samba Fort, which were declared State Protected Monuments vide SRO 323 dated October 19, 2009 and SRO 327 dated October 21, 2011 respectively, the shocking aspect is that School Education Department is operating schools from the premises of these heritage sites although requests were made a number of times by the Directorate of Archives, Archaeology and Museums for shifting the same to other locations.
“As per the provisions of Ancient Monuments Preservation and Conservation Act, 1920 AD, which was amended in 2010, no person can fiddle with the structures of State Protected Monuments. Even Deputy Commissioners are empowered to take action in case of violation of the Act”, they said.
Moreover, forest clearance has yet not been given for restoration work at ancient Buddhist site, Godha Gali in Gool, which was declared State Protected Monument vide SRO 281 dated June 26, 1986 and Thein Fort, which has been selected for restoration work under Scheme for Revival, Restoration, Preservation and Maintenance of Architecture and Heritage Sites.
“While restoration work on other heritage sites, which were selected along with these two, is nearing completion, the work on Godha Gali and Thein Fort is yet to begin because of inordinate delay in forest clearance”, sources said.
When contacted, Director, Directorate of Archives, Archaeology and Museums, Raj Kumar Katoch confirmed violation of the provisions of the Act in several State Protected Monuments and said, “all the concerned agencies are required to cooperate with each other so that heritage sites don’t suffer any sort of damage”.
In response to a question, the Director said, “I will take up these issues at the highest level in the administration for necessary direction to all the concerned agencies”.
However, sources said, “these issues are likely to be flagged in the review meeting of the Culture Department to be taken by the Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on March 28”.
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