Govt to revive, conserve heritage sites
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 4: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday revealed that the assets of Sungli yatri base camp and rain shelter sheds for the Kailash yatra have been outsourced and said that this situation was inherited by his Government.
Replying to a question by BJP MLA Daleep Singh Parihar (Bhaderwah) during Question Hour in the Assembly, Abdullah, who is also the Tourism minister, said that an amount of Rs 279.83 lakh had been spent on the construction of Yatri Base Camp Sungli and rain shelter sheds at Kailash Kund during 2014-15.
He said that in 2017, the asset was outsourced for a period of three years at Rs 24 lakh per year and was again outsourced for 10 years during 2024-25 at Rs 26.25 lakh per year with a 10 per cent escalation every year.
Replying to a supplementary question by Singh, raising concerns about the outsourcing of Yatri Niwas and other facilities for the Kailash Yatra in Bhaderwah, Abdullah said, “This situation was inherited by us. Initially, it was for three years, and at that time, we were not even in the office. Before coming in on October 24, this was outsourced. The outsourcing was done for ten years. You asked correctly why it was done for ten years, but it was done. At that time, the department understood correctly that it had been done for ten years. If you wish, it can be cancelled…”
“The asset was outsourced to strengthen the revenue base of the Bhaderwah Development Authority to utilise the same for meeting day-to-day requirements of the authority like maintenance of parks and gardens, resorts, tourist huts, guest houses, etc,” he said.
The Executive Engineer (R&B) Division Bhaderwah has been requested to prepare a Detailed Project Report for the construction of shelter sheds, kiosks and public convenience complexes at various tourist places of Bhaderwah, including Revshra Mata, Kailash Yatra and Manimahesh Yatra routes in Bhaderwah constituency, he added.
Meanwhile, Omar highlighted the Government’s ongoing initiatives for revival, restoration and conservation of heritage sites at Parihaspora and Pattan.
Replying to a question by Pattan MLA Javid Riyaz Bedar in the Legislative Assembly regarding promotion of heritage tourism, Abdullah, who also holds the Culture and Tourism portfolios, said the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is mandated to promote heritage tourism and undertake major conservation and development works at the heritage sites of Parihaspora, Pattan and Tappar.
He said the ASI is carrying out conservation, protection and major developmental interventions at these sites.
The Chief Minister, however, said the J-K tourism department has constructed a tourist cafeteria at Parihaspora to provide basic amenities to visitors, adding that the facility will be further renovated and upgraded to improve services.
Giving details of initiatives taken by the Culture Department, Abdullah said that Goverdhan at Parihaspora was declared a State Protected Monument vide SRO-408 dated September 19, 2013.
Protection measures, including installation of chain-link fencing around the monument, were completed during the 2024-25 financial year under the capex budget at an estimated cost of Rs 39.89 lakh, he added.
He said Divar Yakhmanpora at Parihaspora, declared a state-protected monument on August 31, 1989, comprises an ancient temple complex presently under excavation.
The excavation work was initiated during 2023-24 under Phase-I of the scheme for revival, restoration, preservation and maintenance of architecture and heritage in J-K at an estimated cost of Rs 373.10 lakh, the chief minister said, adding that around 60 per cent of the work has been completed.
Since the process involves manual excavation, the work is likely to continue into the next financial year, he said. The site is being actively maintained by the department.
Abdullah further said that a heritage site comprising a temple and spring near Sukh Nag in Pattan was declared a State Protected Monument vide SRO-517 dated August 29, 2019.
He said that the restoration and development works at the Sukh Nag Spring and Temple were undertaken during 2024-25 under the same scheme at an estimated cost of Rs 229.92 lakh. The site has been fully restored and is being maintained by the department.
Regarding Tappar, the Chief Minister said the site is a Centrally Protected Monument under the administrative control of the ASI and, therefore, no initiative has been taken by the department at the site.
The post Situation inherited by us: CM on outsourcing assets appeared first on Daily Excelsior.