CM, Governing Body members dis-satisfied over restoration work on Mubarak Mandi

*Only Rs 1.5 cr spent out of Rs 50 cr sanctioned by Centre

 Mohinder Verma

Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed chairing Governing Body meeting of Mubarak Mandi Heritage Society at Jammu on Friday.
Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed chairing Governing Body meeting of Mubarak Mandi Heritage Society at Jammu on Friday.

JAMMU, June 19: Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed as well as almost all the members of the Governing Body of the Mubarak Mandi Heritage Society today expressed complete dis-satisfaction over the pace of restoration work going on in the crumbling historic complex and observed that given the prevailing speed, the complete restoration of grandeur of Dogra heritage to its pristine glory would take not less than 100 years.
Now, it has been decided that further discussion on issues relating to restoration work in the historic complex would be held only after the Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Dr Pawan Kotwal comes up with comprehensive Restoration-cum-Utilization Plan by August 1, 2015. In the absence of such a plan till date, the Governing Body didn’t hold any discussion on the agenda points prepared by the Executive Director of the Society by considering the same as a futile exercise.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that soon after the Executive Director of the Mubarak Mandi Heritage Society started making presentation on the agenda points, Prof Lalit Magotra, prominent literary personality and member of the Governing Body of the Society, said that there was no point in discussing agenda when no major improvement is visible on ground as far as restoration of historic complex and symbol of rich Dogra heritage is concerned.
“Right from the first Governing Body meeting of the Society the issues confronting the restoration work are the same and no major headway has been made in having a holistic plan, which is imperative to restore the lost glory of this historic complex”, sources said quoting Prof Magotra’s view point expressed in the meeting.
He stressed that instead of allowing only Archaeological Survey of India, the Government must look for other agencies, which too have expertise in carrying out such works so that restoration work is carried out simultaneously on other structures of the complex. He stressed that Government must rope in those agencies, which have successfully carried out such works in Rajasthan and other States of the country.
Prof Magotra was supported by several other members of the Governing Body, who stressed the need of strengthening and supporting those structures, which are in grave danger of falling apart, till the start of restoration work.
“Given the present pace of work, we think complete restoration of this historic complex would take not less than 100 years and nobody knows how much structures would sustain the vagaries of the weather by that time”, they said.
Expressing serious concern over slow pace of work, they said, “ASI has been able to spend only Rs 1.5 crore out of Rs 50 crore sanctioned by the Government of India as such the situation demands holistic planning for expediting work”.
Some other members regretted that no serious thought has so far been paid towards the Detailed Project Report prepared by the INTACH for restoration of 25 buildings at an estimated cost of Rs 235 crore. “This DPR is required to be taken into consideration as minute details were kept in mind during this exercise and even re-use plan has also been prepared along with this DPR”, they said.
They also highlighted the need of starting restoration work on other parts of the complex like Rani Charaki Palace and Gole Ghar, which are suffering extensive damage due to weather vagaries with every passing day.
Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Nirmal Singh and Minister for Education, Naeem Akhtar, while expressing concern over slow pace of work, stressed the need to study the pattern adopted for restoration of such structures in other parts of the country particularly Rajasthan so that restoration work is geared up and completed in time-bound manner that too with the help of experts in the field.
They too subscribed the views of the members that unless there is proper planning and direction for restoration of complex there was no point in having discussion on agenda points as the same yields no positive results on the ground, sources informed.
Expressing serious concern over slow pace of work on the historic complex, Chief Minister stressed upon immediate framing up of the Restoration-cum-Utilization Plan so that the historic cluster of heritage buildings is retrieved and restored to its pristine glory.
He directed Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, to finalize the preparatory action wherever required for a time-bound implementation of the restoration project. He was also directed to submit an Action Taken Report by August 1 so that steps are accordingly taken for restoration work.
In the Restoration-cum-Utilization Plan, the Divisional Commissioner would identify the structures, which require immediate attention vis-à-vis strengthening and then restoration, expert agencies other than ASI which can be roped in for carrying out restoration work on large scale and how the structures can be put to reuse after restoration.
The Chief Minister observed that given the technical knowhow of Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), the agency should be actively involved in the conservation of Mubarak Mandi Heritage Complex. He also called for better synergy between various agencies involved in restoration works and laid stress on emulating best practices in conservation of heritage sites and buildings.
Mufti Sayeed also issued directions for expediting work on Darbar Hall and Royal Court premises to showcase the rich Dogra cultural heritage and tradition. He also suggested rationalizing and augmenting parking areas so that the outer premises of the complex are spruced up by the Floriculture Department.
“While landscaping the complex campus, special care should be taken to protect the Coronation Site in the Central Park of the Complex,” he said.

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