news details |
|
|
| Despite opposition, Zubin Mehta concert on course | | | Mustansir
Srinagar, Sep 1: Despite opposition of the Kashmiri separatists, the preparations for the much-talked-about Zubin Mehta Concert at Shalimar, royal garden of Mughal emperor Jahangir are going on in full swing and all the concerned government department are synergizing their efforts to make the show a grand success. It seems that whole state machinery is at work to prepare the Shalimar garden for the show. According to official figures, the on-going renovation and development works are going on at a cost of Rs. 3.62 crore.
The 90-minute concert would be telecast live in over 50 countries. Zubin Mehta is scheduled to arrive in a special plane along with his orchestra on September 5. Organizers and security agencies are now busy with the arrangements. The floriculture department that manages the Shalimar Garden, the venue of the concert, is refurbishing the garden to create a stage for the over 100-member orchestra to be conducted by Zubin Mehta. There will be seats for around 1,500 invitees to the concert. Sources in the state government say that the audience would be strictly by invitation. However, art and heritage lovers have objected to the erection of platforms inside the Shalimar Garden. They say it interferes with the original architecture of the 17th century garden laid by Mughal emperor Jahangir.
The emperor used the garden as his summer residence during his stay in Kashmir with his queen Noor Jahan. But the government says the protection and preservation of the heritage is their top priority. "Identity of any nation is correlated with its cultural, tradition, language and heritage, adding that government has taken various initiatives for the revival and conservation of heritage sites in the J&K," said Minister of State for Floriculture, Animal Husbandry, PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Nazir Ahmad Gurezi. He further said that executing agencies have been directed to preserve its antique characteristics so that its natural scenic beauty and imaginative attractiveness is not disturbed or altered.
State intelligence agencies are saying there is no specific guerrilla threat to the concert, but all precautions associated with an international event of this stature are being taken. "Despite opposition to the concert by separatist politicians, we have no specific input about any militant threat to the concert. Yet, there would be no lowering of guard," said a senior intelligence officer. The 14-km-long route from the city to Shalimar Garden would be sealed in the evening of Sep 7. The Dal Lake would be monitored by security forces using speed boats. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
