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Ahata Amar Singh faces demolition threat Jammu likely to lose another heritage building 8/21/2016 11:08:58 PM Akshay Azad Early Times Report Jammu, Aug 21: Another historic building of Dogra rulers in Jammu city is likely to be bulldozed soon as Estate department is all prepared to demolish Ahata Amar Singh situated in Panjthirthi, which the Archives department has been recommending, to declare a heritage monument. As per the documents available with Early Times, the Deputy Director Archives, Archeology and Museum Jammu on 18/6/2016 vide letter no. DDJ/2016/SPM-101/28 had forwarded a letter to Director Archievs Lal Mandi Srinagar, for declaring the Ahata Amar Singh as heritage building under J&K Heritage Conservation and Preservation Act of 2010. The letter forwarded by Deputy Director reads as, "One old heritage building in Ahata Amar Singh, Panjthirthi, stands enlisted by the department under heritage building category under JK Heritage Conservation and preservation Act of 2010 and has not been declared yet as protected building under the said act". The complex is said to be used by Dogra rulers as stable for horses and Palkighar for royal queens. The complex is crown of Panjthirthi and building itself speaks its authenticity which is said to be constructed by Raja Amar Singh, father of Maharaja Hari Singh. Keeping in view the architectural, historical and heritage significance of the building, it is requested to your goodself to take up the matter with administrative department for declaring this pristine glory of Dogra rulers as Heritage building under JK Heritage conservation and Preservation Act of 2010, the letter concludes. A local of Panjthirthi alleged that Kashmir based bureaucrats and leadership was least bothered to protect Dogra heritage, so have been delaying the process of giving heritage building status to this site. "Under a well planned conspiracy, all the structures have been erased or left unattended for natural demolition", he alleged. But surprisingly, on the other hand, the Estate Department vide order number DDE/J/1028-29, dated 17/8/2016 has decided to demolish the same building. "You are aware of the fact that the government building bearing Block-A Old Ahata Amar Singh, Jammu has been declared as unsafe for human habitation by the Engineering wing of Estates Department, which is going to demolish the said building through JKPCC and construct new quarters", the letter reads as. The concluding paragraph of letter forwarded by Estate Department to the inhabitations of area reads as, "You (nearly 10 families) are asked to vacate the above noted quarters by Sunday evening by 21st of August 2016, positively, failing which this office (Deputy Director Estates) shall have no other option, but to take over the possession of land forcibly. Castigating the proposal of Estates Department, Former Mayor of Jammu Municipal Corporation JMC and Executive Committee member of Mubarak Mandi Heritage Society (MMHS), Narinder Singh said, "It seems Director Estates is in a tearing hurry to eradicate the remnants of Dogra empire by way of demolition of this heritage building Ahata Amar Singh, one of oldest building, which amounts to criminal act". He further said that recently High Court Jammu in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) have appointed a senior advocate BS Slathia to ascertain the facts about Mubarak Mandi Heritage building and have authorize him to include some associated with him in said mattr and submit his report to High Court Jammu but it was most unfortunate that Estate Department is all set to ground a heritage building in clear violation of said norms for protection of heritage properties. Deputy director of Estate Department Statish Sharma said that High Court has already vacated the stay on the said site. "Funds have already issued for construction of quarters and the inhabitants are relocated for some time to Bari-Brahmana and whenever the quarters will be constructed, these families will be rehabilitated there", he said, adding that they would likely demolish the structure. On being asked if the building is a heritage complex, Sharma said that on the same plea, the people had secured a stay from High Court, which has now been vacated.   Share This News with Your Friends on Social Network     Comment on this Story

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