Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 5: Saving Environment and Activism for Restoration of Culture and Heritage (SEARCH)—a Jammu based NGO, held its meeting to discuss the present condition of famous Hindu shrine of Purmandal and the neglect of ancient temples, Havelis and Devika River there.
Suneel Mahajan, SEARCH chairman said that Purmandal came to limelight few years back when PM Modi impressed on the significance of this pilgrimage place and talked about vision to develop it in line with Banaras and Kashi Vishwanath.
He claimed that blatant and un-engineered approach is visible where concrete Ghats are built at Purmandal with stone and lime mortar structures, which is against the principals of basic engineering and conservation science.
Various decisions to save Purmandal from further destruction and to prepare a plan to carry out conservation activities there were taken in the meeting.
Neeraj Aggarwal suggested an action plan to prepare a presentation and to take the matter with the government.
Kranti Bhushan, general secretary of SEARCH while speaking in the meeting said the NGO plans to take up the uphill task and proposes to be an extended hand of government in carrying of conservation and restoration of Purmandal in days to come.
Jawahar Lal Baru, lone crusader compiling data of religious history of Purmandal and Bhushan Parimoo, renowned environmentalist studying the flow of Devika and the forest area in Basantar basin were also present in the meeting.
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