G S Asgotra
Early Times Report
Jammu, June 16: After six decades of independence, the Jammu and Kashmir government led by former chief minister, Omar Abdullah had enacted the Jammu and Kashmir Heritage Conservation and Preservation Act, 2010 (JKHCPA) for the preservation and conservation of rich heritage of the three regions both tangible and intangible but due to callous approach of the department concerned, landmarks of state's heritage are dying a slow death.
Source in department informed Early Times that the previous government had enacted Heritage Act in 2010 to safeguard the antiquities, monuments and cultural heritage of all the three regions both tangible and intangible including buildings, structures, monuments, precincts, areas/sites, artifacts, sculptures, manuscripts etc but after lapse of the five years, no seriousness has been shown either by the administration or political leadership.
"The insensitivity of culture department could be gauged from the fact that in April 2013, the former Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah also sanctioned staff of three specialists to assist the authority in preparation and implementation of conservation plan but owing to inordinate delay in their appointments, the conservation and preservation work of heritage was badly affected", he informed. These posts were Chief Conservationist, Conservationist and Assistant Conservationist but after lapse of more than two years the incumbent government has also failed to appoint the three specialists so far", he informed.
He further said that the incumbent government was only focusing on tourism and purportedly neglecting the abundant heritage of the state, adding, "According to Act, the both the ministries for Culture and Tourism will be chairmen of the authority but lack of coordination between the departments have influenced the functioning of the department", he said. Pertinently, the previous government had started the renovation and maintenance of Mubarak Mandi complex few years back , but after lapse of many years, the maintenance of Jammu heritage is still going on and that exposing the tall claims made by the government. |
