Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 17: The national policy for conservation of the ancient monuments and archeological sites and remains was approved in the 36th meeting of Central Advisory Board of Archeology (CABA) which was held in Union Capital today.
The meeting which was represented by the members of Archeological Survey of India (ASI) from all States and representatives of State Archeological Departments was chaired by Union Minster of State with independent charge of Culture and Tourism Shripad Vasu Naik.
The meeting also approved that joint excavation and exploration of Second Century AD Archeology site at Letpora, in South Kashmir district of Pulwama will be done by ASI and State Archeology Department.
The proposal to this effect was already submitted by the State Archives and Museums Department to the ASI and the meeting today approved the same. This was stated by Mohammed Shafi Zahid Director Archives and Museums of the State who represented J&K in the meeting.
The meeting also turned down the demand regarding shifting of Archeology Survey of India Office from Jammu to Srinagar which was shifted to Winter Capital due to threat perception after the militancy gripped the Valley in 1990.
The demand was made by Prof V S Shinde a renowned scholar who felt the need of shifting back the office to Valley in view of the normalization of the situation on ground there.
Prof Shinder said that there was a full fledged Circle Office of ASI in Srinagar till militancy engulfed the Valley in 1990 and the same was shifted to Jammu due to threat perception. However now the normalcy has returned the Valley and the office must be shifted back to preserve and conserve the ancient ASI sites in Kashmir.
The Government said that it was not possible to shift back the office to Valley at present juncture. But the senior officers of the department are visiting Kashmir regularly to have on the spot information about excavations and conservation work in Kashmir, the meeting was informed.
The meeting was attended by members of Archeological Survey of India from all States as well as State Archeology Departments.
Mr Zahid said the J&K Government had also put forth the demand for transfer of the antiquities excavated from Burzahama Archeology site to State Archeology to be displayed at Shri Partap Singh, Museum Srinagar.
The meeting deliberated on different issued including excavation, exploration, financial assistance under ASI head and publications made from time to time.
Besides, it also discussed involvement of students of Department of Archeology and Architecture for documentation of heritage sites to be undertaken by the National Mission of Monuments, he said.
Mr Zahid said different issues concerning with our heritage were discussed and every State discussed its agenda in the meeting.
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