Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 3: Former Minister and president Dogra Sadar Sabha (DSS) Jammu Thakur Gulchain Singh Charak has held the apathy, amongst the officials at helm, responsible for putting the priceless Dogra heritage of Mubarak Mandi, Jammu to risk of collapsing during coming Monsoon.
Issuing a press statement, after visiting the historic complex, Charak said that despite bringing the matter to the notice of the UT administration repeatedly, over quite some time, the strengthening of the slopes supporting the palaces towards the Tawi side of the heritage complex has not taken up so far. He pointed out that, with the Monsoon being just around the corner, severe damage to these historic buildings cannot be ruled out during heavy downpours.
Charak disclosed that during his visit to the Mubarak Mandi complex, he found that no work was being done in this regard. “On contacting the Chief Engineer, PWD Jammu, I was informed that a committee of engineers was constituted, some time back, to study the problem and furnish a report for the requisite strengthening required to be undertaken on urgent basis. However, no report has been submitted by the said Committee so far,” he added.
He also expressed disappointment that the rare and precious artifacts of the Dogra Art Museum, including its collection of paintings worth crores of rupees, were continuing to deteriorate due to dust, etc., in the old Army HQ building where these had been temporarily shifted, to facilitate restoration of the Marble Hall and other buildings earmarked for locating the Museum permanently.
The DSS president said that, in a similar manner, the fragile 300 years old records of Archives was also in danger of being further damaged during the coming monsoon.
He urged the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to hold an early meeting of the governing body, Mubarak Mandi Jammu Heritage Society for looking into these issues and consider appropriate orders to ensure that this priceless heritage of Dogras does not suffer further damage, and its restoration work is expedited for completion in time.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel