Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 27: Disputing the technical, commercial and environmental feasibility of the proposed multistorey complex to be built after dismantling of a heritage structure at Jammu Dak Bungalow Complex, Jammu Heritage Conservation Club (JHCC) has urged the Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, to visit the site before approving of the controversial plan.
Addressing a joint press conference, convener and deputy convener of JHCC, Afroze Khan and Sandeep Sharma cautioned Mufti, who incidentally holds portfolio of Tourism Department also, to be wary about the unscrupulous elements and sycophants in the administration who are bent upon destroying the institutions for their personal interests.
Reminding the Chief Minister of his commitment made about the preservation and protection of the heritage sites in Jammu and Kashmir at a function in Srinagar on August 9, they quoted him saying “our state is a goldmine of heritage assets and the Government will take all steps to show case them by maintaining the regal essence of its glorious past”.
Demonstrating through a power point, they said the site for construction of a multistorey complex by Jammu Kashmir Tourism Development Corporation (JKTDC) with underground parking, shopping arcade and residential rooms is not technically, commercially and environmentally feasible, they said.
They said they wanted to save an old building in the city’s famous Dak Bungalow complex after losing a similar structure of “Old Circuit House” near Canal Road due to an “opportunist’s greed” nearly two decades ago.
“They pulled down a heritage structure after impressing upon the then Government for building of an ‘International Convention Complex-(ICC)’ at the vacated site and in the process Jammu lost a historical building and the substitute complex is still nowhere in sight”, they lamented.
They said they would keep State Accountability Commission (SAC), State Vigilance Organisation (SVO), INTACH and other concerned groups in loop for monitoring the status of heritage sites in Jammu region.
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