Early Times Report
Jammu, Apr 19: The renovation of one of the most important Dogra heritage in Jammu and Kashmir- Mubark Mandi- is in limbo with money for the implementation of the Detailed Project Reports yet to be received for further necessary measures. As per the reports coming to fore, 17 DPRs related to the renovation of Mubarak Mandi are ready but are pending due to sanction of money. In these 17 projects of Mubarak Mandi Heritage Society, DPR of ten projects have been approved and funding is now awaited. Each of these 17 projects will cost between Rs 20 and 25 crores.
Reports informed that quarters of queens will be protected on PPP mode including Chadhaki Mahal. In this, these heritage places will be protected with the participation of private companies. The private players will be able to use it commercial purposes, in which heritage hotels, museums, restaurants can be built. There are rooms in the palace of the queens, so there are plans to renovate them together with investors. Some investors have also shown interest in this proposal and the government is also in touch with them, reports inform.
Mubarak Mandi is not only a historical heritage but an identity of the Dogra dynasty. There are a total of 25 small and big buildings in this entire complex, which are to be renovated, but currently only five are under construction. It will take two years to complete. These include Durbar Hall, Dogra Art Museum, Amar Singh Palace, Raj Ram Singh Mahal, Rani and Ram Singh Mahal. While the Central Court is to be tendered. These construction works are being done at a cost of Rs 65 crore.
One company each of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh is working on it. One has two, while the other company has three projects.
Pertinent to mention On December 14, last year, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha visited Mubarak Mandi Heritage Complex, a symbol of royal Dogra history of the erstwhile princely state, and inspected the ongoing restoration and renovation works of the palaces.
Sinha visited different sections of the complex to review the progress and quality of work. He asked the officials to expedite the work.
On December 3, LG’s principal secretary Nitishwar Kumar had visited the complex and sought a detailed briefing on progress of the restoration works and details of structures that need to be preserved, besides discussing issues pertaining to restoration of the Dogra Art Museum, preservation of historical records, etc. On November 29, Dogra Sadar Sabha president Gulchain Singh Charak had raised the issue of preservation of archival records while expediting the restoration work of the Mubarak Mandi Palace Complex in Jammu in accordance with rules and regulations laid down by the Mubarak Mandi Jammu Heritage Society. |
