Tahir Mushtaq
JAMMU, Sept 3: With faulty planning and red tapism, the much hyped Mubarak Mandi Palace renovation seems will not see the light of the day and the heritage palace will become a part of the history.
According to the official sources, the cost for the renovation of the palace is estimated Rs 236 crore and but it had missed about three deadlines in the past and right now the work is far from completion.
“The authorities concerned are least bothered about slow pace of restoration work and if the government is really serious than it has taken immediate steps to conserve and develop the complex into its original architectural form,” sources maintained.
Sources disclosed that Archeological Survey of India (ASI) is also suffering from shortage of manpower which is another faction causing delay in restoration work.
A 63 year old Mul Raj Abrol, a resident of Mubarak Mandi said that the Mubarak Mandi is now become “Barbad Mandi” due to the apathy of the government.
He further said that since the renovation work of the palace starts neither any minister nor any government officers visited to check the work that is the main reason the work is still pending.
“It will also help in promoting tourism in the state if the palace restored to its original shape as it also has Dogra Art Museum inside palace” Abrol said.
He maintained that when government offices were there in the Mubarak Mandi complex the administration at the period of six month to one year look after the maintenance work of the building, but after the shifting of the offices there is nobody to take care of this heritage site. Due to which it loses its identification slowly.
He added that at the same site people often visited for their official works in the different departments placed in the palace. But as there is no office in the complex nobody came there to witness the heritage of Dogra rulers.
The renovation of the fort complex, constructed by the Dogra rulers is saga of apathy and neglect. Initially government had made the project report for Rs 53 conservation project, which was later raised upto Rs 150 crore. Now the cost has escalated to Rs 250 crore.
Officials said that INTACH, New Delhi has already submitted Detailed Project Report (DPR) of 90 percent of the buildings along with Vision Plan for which the Society has already constituted Advisory Committee to study the same.
As per the revenue records, the heritage complex is spread over an area of 120 kanals and 16 marlas. The palace architecture represents a unique blend of Rajasthani, Mughal and Baroque European influences. The most beautiful segment is the Sheesh Mahal, The Pink Hall now houses the Dogra Art Museum which showcases about 800 rare and exquisite Pahari paintings from Jammu and Basoli schools of paintings.
The work was entrusted to four leading institutions of the country in 2007, including Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Indian National Trust for Art, Culture and Heritage (INTACH), National Museum, New Delhi and Geological Survey of India.
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