Raman Suri
Jammu Development Authority (JDA), Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC), Deputy Commissioner Office, Office of Divisional Commissioner, National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) and Panch Dashnaam Zoonaa Shivaalyaa, all locked horns last weekend when a Notice Inviting Tender (NIT) was floated by NHIDCL invited bidding for a project tilted ‘Development of Multilevel Car Parking System and Commercial Complex on PPP Model at Panjvaktra Temple Jammu in the UT of Jammu & Kashmir’.
The issue rolled into a controversy after the caretaker of the Panjvakra Temple, Suresh Sharma, raised his voice boldly. Suresh Sharma, who is now a retired District and Session Judge and has remained a PSC Member too, is known as the most honest and ethical person, due to which he was appointed as caretaker of this temple by the Hon’ble High Court on 12-12-2008 as, at that time also several attempts were made to grab the temple land. After much hue and cry due to timely action by the caretaker, tender document was recalled with a rider that any such development will take place only when the title of land will be verified by the Office of Divisional Commissioner. This was the most unfortunate development in the City of Temples, where allegations of government institutions grabbing temple land came to foreground. Today, when the issue stands what I would call partially resolved, yet it raises many questions as to who is eyeing on land of temples, schools, heritage sites as well as playing fields in Jammu and who is making these attempts to change Jammu’s basic characteristics.
The preamble of the earlier Master Plan of Jammu Development Authority (JDA) 2021 said, “Jammu, the city of temples and the winter capital of J&K state, is a symbol of ancient values and present aspirations. In J&K state, Jammu has a distinct image due to its heritage, location and linkages”. Now that the state has been converted into Union Territory, it is believed that the basic structure of this preamble stays same for the simple reason that it mentions aspirations of its people.
Contrarily, the very same Master Plan had worst in store for Jammu city as it was aimed at changing the basic characteristics of this beautiful city located on a small hillock and on the banks of river Tawi. Proposals in part two of the same Master Plan under clause 6.9.11 mentioned developing Special Areas wherein it was written that “Near the Secretariat, Ranbir High School and Women’s College are proposed to be shifted and these sites developed for parking and open space respectively”.
“Similarly, the DC’s office is proposed to be shifted and the area thus freed is to be developed as green. The Kanak Mandi is proposed to be shifted to new areas being developed as part of the Master Plan and the area thus freed may be developed as green. The forest department office is to be shifted and the area developed for parking. The Silk Factory which is a sick unit and has dilapidated buildings is proposed to be dismantled and the area developed as green which will provide the required lung space for the old city area”.
Another proposal, though not in Master Plan, was given to convert Parade Ground, the only playing area in old city for children, into parking lot. This issue was somehow shelved after some citizens intervened and probably took the matter to court as well. As if this was not enough, an unsuccessful attempt was also made to demolish a very old government school located at City Chowk, only to convert it into a parking lot. This also got stayed when children and locals resented the move. However, the historic City Police Station, where almost all BJP stalwarts courted arrest during a movement to handover district Doda to army in 90s when militancy was at its peak, could not be saved and the same was demolished, paving way for parking lot.
Similarly, old yet heritage quarters built in the shape of arches of colonial era at Doctors’ Lane were demolished to pave way for parking, only to be used by employees and visitors of civil secretariat as well as devotees and tourists bound for Ranbireshwar Temple located in its vicinity. Land use of this place was rechanged to build a new/second building of civil secretariat, especially when the existing one, which is a heritage structure, was very well catering to the needs of legislatures and employees.
The demolishing spree of heritage structures of Jammu city didn’t end here alone. A circular building constructed with arches and without the use of steel in it inside Radio Station, Jammu at Panjtirthi was demolished. Adjacent to that, Ahata Amar Singh and Ahata Tawaza, where erstwhile King’s horses and elephants used to be kept, were demolished to construct government quarters. Then, a Circular Road from Panjtirthi to D C Office was carved out, thereby weakening the foundation of Mubarak Mandi Heritage Complex. The purpose was well served when portion of this structure started caving in due to weak and exposed foundations.
However, this vandalism didn’t stop here. From time to time, Tanga Stands from Kanak Mandi, Tange Wali Gali and now at Canal Road were also demolished, thereby leaving no sign or part of the glory of City of Temples. Having damaged city’s important structures to this extent, news of encroaching upon Panjvaktra Mahadev Temple’s land near Residency Road came as a shock for citizens. According to Panch Dashnaam Zoonaa Shivaalyaa, National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) in joint collaboration with Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) invited bidding for its project of constructing Multilevel Car Parking and Commercial Complex on PPP Model at Panjvaktra Temple.
Strangely, JMC was described in NIT as absolute owner of the plot of land measuring 3285 square metres situated in Panjvaktra Temple, a claim that was contested by Commissioner JMC Avni Lavasa. She even described the news a ‘Fake’ and shot a letter to Principal Secretary to Government Housing & Urban Development Department (H&UDD) seeking clarification from JDA. What irks is that JMC Commissioner, instead of lodging a FIR with police for dragging JMC’s name in NIT and another FIR with Cyber Cell of JKP for what she described as ‘Fake News’, chose to write to Principal Secretary.
Vice Chairperson (VC) JDA Babila Rakwal also sent a letter to Suresh Sharma, Caretaker of Panjvaktra Temple, describing JMC’s name in NIT as an “inadvertent error”. She also mentioned that earlier the proposal was made by Deputy Commissioner Jammu for developing this space under Smart City Mission. On one hand, she mentioned that NIT stands withdrawn but then added that Divisional Commissioner, Jammu will identify Title of land, and development of this piece of land, if any, will be taken only after following the due process.
Panjvaktra Mahadev Temple, also known as Rupye Wala Mandir, is the oldest constructed temple located near Residency Road in the heart of Jammu city. The total area of temple is around 25 kanals, which includes the land allotted by Maharaja Hari Singh in 1927 to the temple constructed by Raja Mal Dev in 14th century. Besides main temple, other temples, parks and Gau Shaala, there exists a pond in which Lion and Goat were seen by Maharaja Jambulochan as drinking water together as per the famous Dant-Katha.
The temple showcases Dogra culture through its Dogra architecture and around 350 years old wall paintings inside the temple premises tell about the visit and stay of Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji in the temple. In ancient times, Sadhus and other devotees used to stay in this temple while going to Shri Amarnath ji Yatra. Even Adi Shankaracharya ji had visited this temple, it is said. Going by the historic importance of this Temple, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha must order a thorough probe into the entire matter regarding temple land.
By merely recalling the NIT or calling it all “an inadvertent error”, this move has not yet been shelved completely. The move has hurt sentiments of local population and there are still clouds hovering over the issue as to how NHIDCL was authorised to float the NIT and what was the role of JMC and JDA in this entire move. Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) has always stood by truth and for the cause of religious places, and thus extends full support to the caretaker and entire management of the temple. A communication by Union Minister in PMO Dr Jitendra Singh also resulted in JMC and JDA coming with their half-baked statements.
The government must order a probe into the entire issue as Rupees 35 crore project on a land measuring 3285 Sq Mt cannot be conceptualised vaguely. And if it is so, then the matter must be handed over to crime branch to identity the culprits who are trying to grab temple land and damage the cultural ethos of the City of Temples. Earlier also, we had seen no park coming up at Resham Ghar as per the proposal, no parking built at Doctor’s Lane, Old Heritage Structures being damaged, and now a huge land inside Government Women College Parade, where a sports area could have come up, being converted into parking lot.
If Government intends to construct parking lots in old city, places like JKTDC and other such offices besides government quarters at Ahata Amar Singh and Ahata Twaza should be shifted and underground parking should be developed with parks and gardens on ground levels, but no religious place, school or playing field should ever be eyed upon. Jammu, which was a walled city, has already lost many of its historic Gates and now cannot afford to lose lands belonging to temples, schools and sports fields.
(The author is Executive Member
BJP J&K and a Social Activist)
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