Work underway at 9 sites, says official
Srinagar: In order to preserve the heritage of JK, the administration has launched a scheme for the restoration of architectural heritage sites.
Mushtaq Ahmad Beigh Deputy Director of Archives Archaeology and Museums Srinagar told news agency Kashmir News Observer that the scheme has been launched and 16 architectural buildings including shrines, temples, churches, and Gurudwaras are being restored in the first phase in Kashmir.
“Work at nine sites is going on and works at seven more spots have been tendered out and very soon work will be started there as well,” he said.
He said the Secretary of Culture is very keen to restore these sites to their original position and around 50-60 percent of work at these sites has been already completed, he said.
The sites where work is going on include Reshi Moll sahib Anantnag, Devbal Temple Anantnag, Zaina Shah sahib Anantnag, Ram Mandir Srinagar, Khanq-e-Sokhta, Ganpatyar Temple, temple at Bamb demb Srinagar, Hajibal Masjid Tangmarg and Ziyarat of Mohammad Amin Qureshi Owaisi Kupwara.
“Two years before, we established an art museum here and we have displayed modern paintings in it and 200-year-old paintings were also displayed in it so that visitors can easily differentiate old and new art known as modern art,” he said.
Beigh said that they have kept it available for local artists as well who can easily exhibit art for a week or two weeks.
“We have kept recent findings in the SPS museum which includes the excavated findings besides that some were received from Police stations,” he said.
He requested heads of all schools to take their students to heritage sites besides museums so that it can work as a stress releaser for students.
He said that the Public has to play a part in preserving the heritage. “Heritage tourism has great potential in JK and if locals wherever monuments are existing, will preserve them as it will provide them employment opportunities once tourists will visit there,” he said, adding that “I personally request tour operators to inform tourists about monuments, museums, and other heritage sites so that they will know that tourism is JK is confined to Gulmarg and Pahalgam only but there is much more,” he said.
