Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 22: Gulchain Singh Charak, President of Dogra Sadar Sabha, and former Minister, has alleged mismanagement in implementation of Jammu Smart City Project and sought immediate intervention of Lt Governor Manoj Sinha.
“Authorities sitting at the helm of affairs have turned this project into a mockery, using it as a means to waste public money in the name of development,” he said, while talking to media persons at the Dogra Sadar Sabha Bhawan, here today.
Charak particularly drew attention towards preparing of wall paintings at different places across Jammu city under the Smart City Project and alleged that the massive expenditure on these wall paintings was unjustifiable.
“The Government has spent a staggering Rs 5.28 crore on such painting on the walls and pillars at some places across the Jammu city. However, many of these paintings are now in a poor state,” he said.
While elaborating, he added that wall paintings should reflect and highlight the rich culture and heritage of the city whereas the current wall paintings do not convey properly the local culture. “They appear to be a wastage of public money. If the Government intended to promote Dogra culture, the paintings should have been designed accordingly,” he asserted, adding that two of the three hired artists for these wall paintings are from outside Jammu and Kashmir who didn’t have any knowledge of the local culture and heritage.
He also pointed out that the costly wall paintings were created without assessing condition of the walls with the result many of these paintings have deteriorated after just a few rains, leaving them in a dilapidated condition.
Highlighting the broader mismanagement of the Smart City project, Charak noted that many parts of the old city remain in deplorable conditions. “Historic areas like Raghunath Bazaar and Memorial of Raja Jambu Lochan situated near Ranbireshwar temple have been left halfway,” he added.
Dogra Sadar Sabha president appealed to all the Jammu leaders of different political parties and other prominent Dogras to wake up and save Jammu City.
Prominent among those present on the occasion were Col Karan Singh, Amant Ali Shah, Gambhir Dev Singh Charak and Dr Vidya Sagar Sharma.
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