Master Plan prepared by conservation experts awaits approval
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, July 12: The concern for the Mubarak Mandi complex, a dying sheen of Dogra dynasty, has remained confined to the cursory visits by the bureaucrats and politicians as restoration work has yet not picked up the required momentum, which otherwise is imperative to prevent further damage to the already crumbling heritage.
Moreover, Governing Body of the Mubarak Mandi Heritage Society, which is supposed to take all vital decisions vis-à-vis restoration of this historic complex, has not met during the past nearly two years although Master Plan has been prepared by the conservation experts and is lying with the Society for approval.
Every now and then the Government functionaries and politicians pay visit to the historic complex and then come up with the statements expressing concern over slow pace of restoration work as if they are really worried over the crumbling heritage. But the fact remains that these visits are only cursory ones and have not yielded any result vis-à-vis giving necessary impetus to the ongoing restoration work till date.
The restoration work is going on only in one or two structures of the vast complex while as all other buildings of the royal palace continue to remain in pitiable condition and are the victims of dilly-dallying restoration work by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
Keeping this aspect in mind, directions were issued by the former Chief Ministers of the State a number of times for roping in other agencies having expertise in conservation of historic buildings to supplement the works being carried out by the ASI.
However, no progress has been made in this regard so far despite the fact that ASI has explicitly told the Mubarak Mandi Heritage Society and the senior functionaries of the Government that it cannot execute more than Rs 2 crore worth works every year because of manpower constraints, official sources told EXCELSIOR.
Even the Division Bench of the State High Court, in a Public Interest Litigation, had expressed concern over snail’s pace work on the historic complex and had sought clear timelines for planning as well as execution stage. “If the restoration work is not geared up in a planned manner it would take several decades to the Government to fully restore the crumbling heritage”, the DB had observed.
“The outcome of the visits to the complex by the bureaucrats and politicians can be gauged from the fact that even issue relating to parking of vehicles inside the complex has not been resolved till date”, sources said, adding “had there been little bit of seriousness on the part of visiting bureaucrats and politicians steps would have been taken to gear up the restoration work”.
The most dismaying aspect is that Governing Body of the Mubarak Mandi Heritage Society has not met during the past nearly two years. The last meeting of the body was held on August 29, 2016 when certain directions were passed but even there was no follow-up action on the same.
“For want of meeting of the Governing Body even the Master Plan for the entire complex prepared by conservation experts engaged by the Society on the directions of the Government is awaiting approval”, sources said while disclosing that in the Master Plan Project Management Consultancy, which has been engaged for five years, has suggested measures for restoration of the complex as well as its reuse.
In response to a question, sources said, “in the Master Plan conservation strategy for each building of the complex has been reflected”. They asked, “what was the fun of laying thrust on preparation of Master Plan if its approval was to be delayed”.
It is pertinent to mention here that at present work is only going on Royal Court building and central courtyard, which was damaged due to mismanagement besides some beautification works are being executed by the Floriculture Department in consultation with Mubarak Mandi Heritage Society.
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