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| Restoration work of Mubarak Mandi prolongs | | | Akshay Azad
Early Times Report
Jammu, Apr 4: The complete restoration of Mubarak Mandi Heritage Complex (MMHC) is likely to extend to 22nd century, if restoration continued with same sluggish pace and paucity of funds was not addressed.
Sources informed Early Times that after the constitution of Mubarak Mandi Heritage Society (MMHS) in 2008, Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) of nearly 25 restoration works was prepared and Union Government was approached for funding. In 2009, Union government had financed Rs 4.25 Crores, which was fully utilized and Army headquarters block was fully restored.
"Since the restoration work of Mubarak Mandi had started, only one project is completed and at an average ASI takes nearly 3 years to complete one restoration work, due to minimum staff of half a dozen employees. If calculated all the 25 projects will take nearly 75 years to complete", sources said.
Explaining further, sources said that the cost assessed for restoration of 25 projects was Rs. 255 Crores in 2008 and with coming years and due to cost escalation it would surge to nearly Rs. 700 Crores.
Recalling the works executed so far, source said, Union government was again approached after 2009, with the projects and under the 13th Finance Commission a total of Rs. 50 Crores was sanctioned for restoration of Royal Courts, Gadbai Khana, Badi Deodi, Amar singh Palace, Ram Singh Queens.
Out of sanctioned amount a total of Rs. 8.51 Crores was released by Government of India and in year 2012-13, restoration work of Royal Court, Gadbai Khana and Badi Deodi was handed over to Archeological Survey of India (ASI).
"Strangely, instead of utilizing the released amount, it was deposited in a Bank by the then administration", sources said, adding that the Union government sought utilization certificates (UCs) for further release of funds but state had failed to produce the same.
Due to failure of state government to produce UC's, the time limit of 13th Finance Commission got expired and a total of Rs. 41 Crores got lapsed, giving a major blow to restoration work, source said.
Sources further said that under Mega tourism Project a total of Rs. 16.81 Crores was sanctioned by Union government out of which only Rs. 3.25 Crores was released so far. Raising finger over the flaws in restoration works, sources said, a historical monument, wherein incarnation of Maharaja Hari Singh was done in 1924 was broke down and was reshaped from 8 feet to 4 feet, by the MMHS without approval of the then Chairman of Society (Chief Minister) and Chairman of Executive body (tourism Minister). "It was done by MMHS, despite the fact that it had no mandate to reshape or remodeled the building", they said.
Moreover, the ceiling of High Court building in Mubarak Mandi was also reshaped. "Khatbandi of roof to the tune of Rs. 40 Lakhs was done by the then administration, despite the fact that ceiling was already in good shape", sources said.
Pointing towards callous attitude of government as well as citizens of Mubarak Mandi for restoration works, sources said, across the country wherever restoration of heritage buildings is going on, entries for visitors are restricted but in Mubarak Mandi, there is complete chaos.
"Vehicles are parked inside complex. Stray animals, dogs can be found everywhere. Entries from both sides is open and in such condition, who will come to visit this tourist destination", sources said.
They further said that the repeated requests to government for restricted entries, removal of parking vehicles from complex, CRPF security to man the complex were not conceded and in such condition, the dream of making MMH building a tourist destination will remain a dream. |
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