Work apace on 15 monuments taken up under Phase-1
*DPRs received, Executive Committee to meet shortly
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, July 2: Thirty one more heritage sites of Jammu division, which are battling for existence, will shortly get approval for restoration under the Scheme for Revival, Restoration, Preservation and Maintenance of Architecture and Heritage while as work is apace on 18 monuments which were taken up under Phase-I.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that significant progress has been made on restoration of 18 heritage sites of Jammu division which were taken up under Phase-I of the scheme and hopefully by the end of current year all these sites will be completely preserved and then start attracting tourists, students and research scholars.
Keeping in view the present pace of work on these 18 sites, the Department of Culture through Directorate of Archives, Archaeology and Museums has identified 31 more monuments for restoration under Phase-II of the scheme in Jammu division. Among these 31 sites, 10 are in Poonch district, three in Kathua, eight in Doda district, four in Rajouri and six in Kishtwar district.
Disclosing that Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) in respect of most of these 31 sites have already been received, sources said, “an Executive Committee headed by Chief Secretary and comprising of Administrative Secretaries of Finance, Revenue, Tourism and Culture Departments, Divisional Commissioner, Director Tourism and Director Achieves etc will meet shortly to discuss and accord approval for start of restoration work on these 31 sites under Phase-II”.
After the approval of the Executive Committee the matter will be placed before the Governing Body headed by Lieutenant Governor and thereafter with the approval of the Finance Department funds will be placed at the disposal of the Department of Culture for start of work.
In Poonch district, restoration/preservation of tourist facilities at Shri Budha Amarnath Mandi; restoration of Ram Kund Mandir Mendhar; restoration of Ziyarat Chotey Shah Mendhar; restoration of Lohar Devta Temple; restoration of historic Poonch Fort; preservation of ancient Shiv temple at Behramgala Surankote; preservation of Dhari Sahib Gurdwara at Khari Karmarah; restoration of old Nizam-ud-Din Masjid in Haveli area and restoration of Ziyarat Sain Illahi Baksh at Battalkote Loran will be taken up under Phase-II.
Restoration/preservation of Gurdwara Charan Kamal Sahib Bakhta Jasrota, Basohli Fort and Ancient Mint at Basohli will be taken ip in Kathua district while as in Bhaderwah area of Doda district restoration of Shree Vasuki Nag temple, Hidimba Mata Mandir, Kali Mata Mandir inside Rattan Garh Fort, Gupt Ganga temple, Shiv Temple Gatha, Jamia Masjid and Ziyarat of Sain Munch Marore within the premises of Bhaderwah Court Complex will be taken up under Phase-II.
In Rajouri district, Channi Parat Temple, Darhal Fort, Gurdwara Chatti Patshahi and Mahakaleshwar Mahadev Temple Lamberi will be taken up under Phase-II while as in Kishtwar district the restoration and preservation work will be started on Haloti Gompa and Padder Gompa besides development and beautification of Machail Mata area, Sarthal Mata Temple, Astan Bala (Shah Farid-ud-Din Bagdhadi and Shah Asrar-ud-Din Bagdhadi.
In J&K, each temple and shrine is embodiment of a unique saga that takes them beyond the level of just mere architecture or a combination of bricks and walls to the spiritual and inner enlightenment levels. In spite of having such a strong significance, large number of shrines and temples were battling for their existence and identity.
“It is because of this reason that Government formulated the scheme for restoration and preservation of heritage sites and these efforts of the Government have started yielding results with significant progress on the heritage sites taken up under Phase-I of the scheme”, sources said, adding “the restoration of 31 sites being taken up under Phase-II will be a remarkable achievement of the Government as before the formulation of scheme there was no focus on these sites of historical importance from any quarter because of varied reasons”.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
