It can be termed only a half hearted measure to identify the historically important and religiously dominant architecture and heritage sites across Jammu and Kashmir and feeling the dire need to renovate, repair, revive , restore and properly maintain them but without preparing the support base of requisite manpower mainly technical, professional and with due expertise to attend to various aspects and facets of the gigantic task. It is despite the fact that a supportive reasonably sufficient funds base of Rs.100 crore having been not only provided for but earmarked too in the annual general budget indicating the priority accorded to the important project. Prudence and austere administrative acumen warrant taking into all aspects of how a particular problem could be resolved or a critical decision taken effectively implemented. In fact, this area getting neglected over long periods and virtually having done nothing tangible even on selective and piecemeal basis and steadily only points out to the fact that no importance having being given to our past in terms of superb hard work and expertise demonstrated in the particular architecture, workmanship, taste, type of constructions , sites where built and the like and thus providing no scope for our present and future generations of experiencing the physical expression of such past generations . These sites and symbols are , therefore, our pride of cultural heritage which transmit our past wealth of knowledge and skills of the architectural designing and workmanship from one to the other generations.
Look at the other side of the value of such a rich treasure at our disposal which unfortunately due to the absence of a bit of investments , monetary and otherwise, purported for undertaking repairs and renovations etc so as to make them attractive, if not as elegant and splendid as they were during the period they were built , to proudly showcase them to people of other states in the country and those from other countries who visit Jammu and Kashmir as tourists . In other words , restoration and preservation as also subsequent maintenance of these architecture and heritage sites could prove as tourism boon with ample promise of generating more employment in the areas specific and otherwise indirectly. While we appreciate the Government having felt the need to have them restored, money too having been arranged but even several months after such a decision was taken by the Administrative Council, nothing of the sort having been done in the matter pales into insignificance the very decision to have these sites restored.
This ”inability ” to implement the decision and no tangible development having taken place has resulted in no spending out from the budgeted funds of Rs.100 crore which resulted in its getting lapsed last year. However, again a provision is there and funds kept at the disposal for the restoration and preservation work but there is no manpower to conduct extensive surveys, note down technical aspects to be looked into in each such site so as to be reflective in the Detailed Project Reports (DPRs). Moreover, there is no specific arrangement except assigning a few engineers in junior cadre the intricate task to preparing DPRs incorporating therein problems specific of a selected particular heritage site to be attended to and how as also the cost factor, no mention of requisitioning the services of which executing agency having professional experience and due knowledge of renovating and restoring such cultural heritage sites and many associated factors . While there is no attention to these basic issues let alone addressing them properly, how can , therefore, the work start and have the decision of restoring and preserving these sites be implemented, is the moot question while funds are there for the scheme /decision implementation.
Delays caused in this noble but very important pursuit having historical, cultural, religious and tourism related connotations are fraught with the apprehensions of more of slowly caused damages and dilapidations to these sites making the task more difficult in future with more time expended in how to tackle it as at present, the move all about it ,seems things done by not even proverbial halves. Needless to add, a close co-operation of the Departments of Culture, Archives , Archaeology and Museums – the district administrative offices , Public Works Departments etc is a must for evolving a common strategy for undertaking the task . In this endeavour, due intervention of the higher authorities in the administrative hierarchy shall prove too workable to expect better and fast results.
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