Revival, Restoration, Preservation & Maintenance Scheme
*78 projects approved for Jammu, 203 for Kashmir
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Nov 2: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has approved 281 projects under Phase-III of the Scheme for Revival, Restoration, Preservation and Maintenance of Architecture and Heritage at an aggregate cost of Rs 495 crore with the direction to the Department of Archives, Archaeology and Museum to put-in concerted efforts to ensure execution in a time bound manner.
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The approval was granted in the Executive Committee meeting of the Society for Revival, Restoration, Preservation and Maintenance of Architecture and Heritage held recently. The proposals were formulated on the basis of the recommendations of the District Level Coordination-cum-Implementation Committees and scrutinized on the basis of proper site specific assessment and Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) formulation.
“A total of 333 projects were proposed and 281 of them were shortlisted and approved under Phase-III of the Restoration Scheme for an aggregate financial implication of Rs 495.31 crore”, sources in the offices of the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir and Divisional Commissioner Jammu told EXCELSIOR.
In respect of Jammu Division, 85 projects were recommended by the District Level Coordination-cum-Implementation Committees. However, 78 projects were approved with an estimated cost of Rs 169.14 crore. The Kashmir division recorded far higher numbers, with 248 projects recommended and 203 approved, amounting to Rs 326.17 crore, sources revealed.
Jammu district secured 12 projects worth Rs 47.82 crore while as six projects have been approved in Doda district at an estimated cost of Rs 21.59 crore. Kathua secured two projects costing Rs 11.65 crore, Kishtwar 5 projects worth Rs 7.95 crore, Poonch nine projects costing Rs 14.95 crore and Rajouri 22 projects at a cost of Rs 34.52 crore.
Ramban, Reasi, Samba and Udhampur districts got 9, 2, 5 and 6 projects respectively at an estimated cost ranging between Rs 1.60 crore to Rs 22.15 crore.
As far as Kashmir division is concerned, Anantnag and Srinagar districts lead the list with 48 projects each worth Rs 85.94 crore and Rs 70.78 crore respectively. Ten projects worth Rs 4.96 crore have been approved for Bandipora, 25 projects costing Rs 44.43 crore for Baramulla, 8 project costing Rs 9.57 crore for Budgam, five projects worth Rs 4.13 core for Ganderbal, Rs 36.73 crore worth 15 projects for Kulgam, six projects costing Rs 26.15 crore for Kupwara, Rs 18.54 crore worth 23 projects for Pulwama and 15 projects worth Rs 24.94 crore for Shopian.
The Executive Committee has directed that all departments concerned must optimally utilize resources to preserve the architectural and cultural diversity of the Union Territory while maintaining transparency and technical precision in restoration works, sources said.
In response to a question, sources said that out of 33 sanctioned projects under Phase-I, 17 have been completed while the remaining projects are at different stages of execution and are likely to be completed by March 2026.
In Phase-II, out of 73 sanctioned projects, 61 have been accorded Administrative Approval, two Detailed Project Reports are under formulation and 10 DPRs have been proposed for revision on account of cost variation. Two projects under Phase-II have already been completed and 35 projects are scheduled for completion by March 2026.
Regarding 11 projects of Phase-I and Phase-II involving cost variation, the Executive Committee considered and approved the proposal with the direction that a robust mechanism should be put in place to ensure proper ground verification and professional DPR formulation through adequate coordination with district administrations.
“The practice of desk-based DPR formulation without field assessment must be discouraged and discontinued”, sources said quoting the directions of the Executive Committee.
Further, the Executive Committee directed the Director, Archives, Archaeology and Museums to work out the modalities for on-boarding of School of Architecture, Shri Mata Vaishnodevi University, Katra and School of Architecture, Planning and Geomatics, Islamic University of Science and Technology, Awantipora or any other such professional agency as “consulting agency” for effective implementation of the scheme.
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