* Union Joint Secretary calls on Advisor
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Oct 19: The Governor’s Administration has sought Central Government assistance to project Mughal Gardens as World Heritage sites.
The matter was discussed during a meeting between Advisor to Governor Khurshid Ahmad Ganai and Joint Secretary Ministry of Culture, Government of India, Nirupama Kotru.
During the meeting, Ganai sought Central Government’s assistance in preparing a Detailed Project Report (DPR) so that the same can be projected before world forum (UNESCO) to declare Mughal Gardens including Shalimar, Nishat, Achabal Veerinag, the world heritage sites. The Joint Secretary assured the Advisor that the Central Government will assist the State in preparing the DPR for the purpose.
The Government has also sought assistance for the opening of museums at Udhampur, Basohli, Pahalgam, Gurez and Kargil. During the meeting, the Advisor raised the issue of establishment of science city-cum-museum at Jammu and Srinagar. The Joint Secretary assured assistance from the Centre provided the State Government provides suitable land for the purpose.
The Advisor also sought the support of Archaeological Survey of India in up-keep of the archeological sites in a better way.
During the meeting, the Joint Secretary urged the State Government to submit a detailed project report regarding digitization of the artifacts present at SPS Museum and Dogra Museum and perform RFID tagging to enable tracking of tagged artifacts that will help in ensuring their proper security.
The meeting also discussed the Government’s initiative to purchase artifacts from private persons so that the already existing museums can be made rich and sought assistance of the central government in this regard.
Later , Joint Secretary visited SPS Museum here to take stock of the conservation measures.
Kotru took stock of the preservation, promotion and renovation programs being undertaken by the Department of Archives, Archaeology and Museum. She expressed satisfaction over the renovation, propagation and conservation of the heritage artefacts at SPS Museum.
Commissioner Secretary, Culture, Mohammed Saleem Shishgar, Director Archives, Archaeology and Museum, Muneer-ul-Islam and other concerned officials accompanied the Joint Secretary during her visit to the Museum.
The Joint Secretary visited different sections of the museum and sought details regarding the renovation, display of artefacts and future plans regarding the promotion and preservation of artefacts, historic and archaeological sites of the state.
She urged the concerned for accomplishing the pending works at the new museum building in a time-bound manner so that it is opened for public at the earliest.
Speaking on the occasion, Muneer-ul-Islam informed the Joint Secretary that the artefacts and objects housed in SPS museum cover various subjects like archaeology, numismatics, decorative art, arms and armory, paintings and textiles.
He added that the department is taking various innovative measures to preserve and promote the culture and heritage of the state.
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