Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah Friday said that the preservation of heritage and historic monuments is a stupendous task for which the society and the government are equally responsible.Chairing the 5th Governing Body Meeting of Mubarak Mandi Jammu Heritage Society (MMJHS) here, the Chief Minister who is also the Chairman of the Society said that the ancient monuments and archaeological artefacts are depository of values and status of a civilization and these act as agents of vital information and education for the younger generation.
Omar said that knowledge about the past makes the society strong and more capable of taking decisions and carrying forward the process of development alongwith shaping human resources in a better perspective. He said all the citizens are stakeholders in the preservation and protection of heritage and history as such this task has to be performed in a national spirit.Highlighting the heritage importance of Mubarak Mandi Complex, the Chief Minister said that the Mubarak Mandi Heritage Society and the Department of Tourism and Culture need to work in close co-ordination to implement the mega programme launched for restoration of the historic complex.
The meeting discussed matters pertaining to shifting of LT/HT lines and substation from the complex to the new identified site. The Chief Minister said that after ascertaining the feasibility the Power Development Department would take urgent steps in this regard. He said that the amount required for the purpose would be made available to the department.Omar Abdullah approved Rs.9.97 lakh for completion of the ongoing water supply restoration work in the complex for which Rs.10 lakh have already been released and spent by the PHE department.The Chief Minister directed that the restoration work under execution by Tourism Department should necessarily be in consonance with heritage norms and as per the specification laid down for restoration of heritage works.The meeting also discussed restoration of Raja Amar Singh Palace involving Rs.24 crores, Dogra Art Museum, Badi Deodi, Royal Court and Gadvi Khana costing Rs.20 crores besides Mahal of Raja Ram Singh’s Queen involving Rs.9.95 crores. It was stated that Archaeological Survey of India has been entrusted the restoration work of these ancient monuments.
The meeting discussed the project for restoration of Raja Ram Singh Palace, Darbar Hall and Central Courtyard involving Rs.24.92 crores. Matters relating to new museum and upgradation of Dogra Art Museum also came up for discussion.The Executive Director, Mubarak Mandi Jammu Heritage Society, Soujanya Sharma in a power point presentation explained the agenda items and presented resume of the measures under implementation for restoration of Mubarak Mandi Complex.The Minister for Tourism, G. A. Mir, Legislator, Ashok Khajuria, Principal Secretary, Planning, B. R. Sharma, Principal Secretary, Finance, B. B. Vyas, Secretary, Tourism, Zaffar Ahmad, various heads of the departments and senior officers besides the Members of Mubarak Mandi Heritage Society were present in the meeting.