Preserving Kashmir's Heritage by Preserving its Monuments

Governor Vohra is on the Right Track

Heritage Monuments: Vohra asks for urgent steps to preserve glorious past

Srinagar: Governor N.N Vohra has indicated the urgent need for the enactment of a suitable framework for preserving and conserving heritage monuments in the state.

“The rich vernacular architecture has to be preserved for posterity to know about their glorious past, besides attracting a large number of tourists, both domestic as well as foreign,” the Governor observed yesterday while being briefed on the rich treasure of such buildings.
Vohra stressed the need for identifying heritage monuments and magnificent old buildings and observed that, in the first instance, effective time-bound steps would need to be taken for their conservation and preservation of the surroundings.

He was informed that, presently, there was no law for listing or protecting heritage buildings.
The Governor called for the formulation of a master plan in this regard and indicated that implementation of the conservation programme must be carried out within a specified time frame.

He sought the preparation of a calendar of all such activities and the same being monitored on a fortnightly basis.

Vohra suggested creation of a monumental corridor for incoming tourists with the facilities of guides and planned package tours. He also called for creating awareness among the people about the upkeep of the buildings having historical value.

“Such monuments may not be used as dwelling units by them presently; however, those who own such buildings must be made conscious of being the owners of the heritage bequeathed from their ancestors,” he added.

The Governor was given a detailed briefing on monumental buildings surveyed by the Jammu and Kashmir Chapter of INTACH and some of the conservation works undertaken during the past few years.

These include the Ali masjid in Srinagar and the ancient Shiva temple in Manasbal. He was also informed about the status of the first phase of conservation work on the Mubarak Mandi complex in Jammu taken up at a cost of Rs 4. 37 crore.

Vohra was also briefed about the futuristic plans of conserving various forts, buildings and monumental structures across the State and he desired to visit some of these in the coming days, along with all concerned officers.

(The Tribune)