The Dogra Sadar Sabha Core Committee, led by Th Gulchain Singh Charak, visited the Mubarak Mandi Heritage complex today to assess the ongoing restoration and conservation efforts. The committee expressed concern over the deteriorating condition of the roof in the area housing valuable archives, exacerbated by recent rains causing leaks.
During their visit, committee members met with officials from the Mubarak Mandi Jammu Heritage Society to evaluate the status of conservation projects. They highlighted issues stemming from the non-release of funds, amounting to Rs 40 crore pledged by the Lieutenant Governor, which has stalled several restoration activities. Additionally, they noted that certain executing agencies had prematurely ceased work within the heritage complex.
President Th Gulchain Singh Charak emphasized the urgency of completing restoration work across all heritage structures within the complex, including landmarks like Rani Charak Mahal, Rani Bandral Mahal, Sheesh Mahal, and Gole Ghar. He stressed the need for a definitive timeline aligned with the approved Master Plan to harness the social, cultural, and economic benefits of the complex for the people of the Union Territory.
Following the site inspection, the core committee convened with Director Archives, Archaeology & Museums, Jammu, Raj Kumar Katoch, and Assistant Director Sangeeta Sharma, expressing dissatisfaction with the slow progress of ongoing initiatives. They urged the government to expedite the release of promised funds to facilitate timely completion of restoration efforts.
Prominent members of the committee who participated in the visit included Col (Retd) Karan Singh, Maj Gen (Retd) Sunita Kapoor, Abdul Majid, Gambhir Dev Singh Charak, Brig (Retd) M S Jamwal, and several others dedicated to preserving the cultural heritage of the region.
