Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 20: Minister for Housing, Horticulture and Culture Raman Bhalla today said that Government has earmarked Rs. 80 lakh for the preservation of the historical Bahu Fort and develop it as place of tourist and pilgrim attraction.
The Conservation project envisages restoration of ancient build rampart walls, view points, restoration of water tank, royal residence, besides up-gradadation of pathway, landscaping in front of Mahakali temple and installation of spotlights.
The Minister was interacting with the officers after reviewing the progress on the protection work on the Fort, here today.
Commissioner/Secretary Tourism and Culture Atal Dulloo, Director Floriculture K K Sharma, Director Archives, Archaeology and Museums S K A Qadiri besides other senior officers of Jammu Development Authority, (JDA) Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) and Power Development Department (PDD) accompanied the Minister.
Mr. Bhalla asked JDA to immediately take up the renovation of damaged upper ridge of rampart walls, sitting and view spots, pathways, fountains, water tank etc. He asked the Floriculture Department to lay flower beds and do landscaping of the open spaces within and outside the historical fort.
The Minister asked the Directorate of Archives, Archaeology and Museums to issue notice to those who illegally construct structures within the shrine area without permission and create problems for pilgrims. He said every year crores of pilgrims from across the country visit the Mahakali temple and pay obeisance there and it is the duty of the Government to provide all basic and facilities to them at the shrine.
Mr. Bhalla said that the Government was striving hard to showcase J&K’s rich and diverse heritage and cater to multifarious interests of visitors coming to the State. He said measures are afoot to bring all heritage sites on tourism map of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Minister said that Government has declared 39 monuments as state protected heritage sites, adding that a whooping amount is being expended on the restoration and conservation of these heritage sites.
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