Mubarak Mandi Complex was designated a “State Protected Monument” by the State Government in 2005, as per SRO-126. The devastating earthquake of 2005 initiated the establishment of the Mubarak Mandi Jammu Heritage Society (MMJHS) in 2006 to preserve the Mubarak Mandi Heritage Complex. From that year on, different plans have been devised, but no visible restoration has been achieved except for the two structures restored by ASI: the Army Headquarters building, which is presently being converted into a museum and the office of the MMJHS, and another one yet to be handed over.
As conceived in the Master Plan 2019 for MMJHC, it was supposed to be transformed into a place of happening with art galleries, museums, contemporary art, heritage, and folk art on display. Central Court Yard was supposed to be developed as an open theatre, a cafeteria, and whatnot. But four years gone, nothing of the sort happened.
A PIL was filed, and as per the project timeline furnished by the MMJHS in March 2018, the entire work was expected to be completed by March 2023. With no satisfactory reply and going by the facts put up before the court, the Judges of the bench of the High Court personally visited the site to get first-hand information. Instead of completion of work by now, the present situation is that out of 25 heritage structures, 5 are lost, work on 6 is going on at a snail’s pace, all six are without roofs right now, and the 2 structures with intact roofs are the only restored structures by the Archaeological Survey of India. The illumination of the whole building of the Army Headquarters/Foreign Department and the heritage clock are the only completed work by MMJHS. The fate of the other 14 Heritage Structures is in jeopardy because there is currently no approved DPR and no funding. The Judges also observed that the Court Record Building adjacent to the Mubarak Mandi Complex has been converted into parking, with the old records still there. The judges directed the administration to provide an alternative place for the record, and till then this complex will be a no-parking zone to avoid any further damage to the monument.
Factually, the Mubarak Mandi Heritage Complex is a State-protected monument where one cannot put an extra brick, but all construction workers engaged are residing within these structures only, against the rules. Further, instead of focusing on the completion of work, the Heritage Society is time and again promoting plans that are not part of the master plan to which it should have adhered. First, it was the proposal to have a Heritage Hotel, and now the latest addition is the installation of a lift in the fragile Heritage Complex, which under the State Protected Monument Act cannot be permitted. The Central Courtyard, which was supposed to be first developed, stands vandalised with no one to take care of even the garden; heaps of construction waste are dumped here and there. As per the master plan, the rear side of the complex needs to be strengthened in consultation with NHAI, who are experts in this kind of work, but nothing has been done on this either.
As observed by the judges, COVID-19 may have delayed the work, but too little work has been done so far. The best way forward to preserve this Dogra heritage is to adhere to the master plan; changing the goalposts too often serves no purpose. State-protected monument rules should not be violated at any time. As per new time line, by end of 2023 all six structures under restoration are to be completed. This Dogra Heritage Complex requires immediate attention as another spell of monsoon can be as damaging to the open roof structures as happened the last year. The highest authorities of the administration must intervene to make things happen as per the Master Plan.
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