Outlines initiatives at Parihaspora, Pattan, Tappar
Details Rs 279.83 lakh investment in Bhaderwah Yatri infra
Jammu, Feb 04: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday said the Department of Culture is mandated with the revival, restoration and conservation of Jammu and Kashmir’s valuable heritage sites, and several initiatives have been undertaken in this regard at key locations including Parihaspora, Pattan and Tappar.
The Chief Minister was replying to a question in the Legislative Assembly, raised by MLA Pattan, Javid Riyaz Bedar, regarding the promotion of Heritage Tourism.
In his reply, the Chief Minister, who also holds the portfolio of Culture and Tourism departments, informed the House that the mandate for promotion of Heritage Tourism at the heritage sites of Parihaspora, Pattan and Tappar vests with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). Accordingly, the conservation, protection and major developmental interventions at these sites are being undertaken by the ASI.
However, he said that with a view to facilitating tourists, the J&K Tourism Department has constructed a tourist cafeteria at Parihaspora to provide basic amenities to visitors. He added that the facility will be further renovated and upgraded to enhance service delivery.
Providing details of the initiatives taken by the Culture Department, the Chief Minister said that Goverdhan, Parihaspora is a State Protected Monument declared vide SRO-408 dated 19.09.2013. Protection measures, including the installation of chain-link fencing around the monument, have been completed during FY 2024–25 under the Capex Budget at an estimated cost of Rs. 39.89 lakh.
Similarly, he informed the House that Divar Yakhmanpora, Parihaspora is a State Protected Monument declared vide SRO-337 dated 31.08.1989. The site comprises an ancient temple complex currently under excavation.
The excavation work was initiated during FY 2023–24 under Phase-I of the Scheme for Revival, Restoration, Preservation and Maintenance of Architecture and Heritage in J&K, with an estimated cost of Rs. 373.10 lakh. About 60 percent of the excavation work has been completed. As the process involves manual excavation, the work is likely to continue into the next financial year. The site is being actively looked after by the Department.
The Chief Minister further stated that in Pattan, a heritage site comprising a temple & spring near Sukh Nag has been declared State Protected Monument vide SRO-517 dated 29.08.2019. Restoration and development works at the Sukh Nag Spring and Temple have been undertaken during FY 2024–25 under the same scheme at an estimated cost of Rs. 229.92 lakh.
He added that the site has been completely restored and is being maintained by the Department.
Regarding Tappar, the Chief Minister said that the Tappar Heritage Site is a Centrally Protected Monument under the administrative control of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), and accordingly, no initiative has been taken by the Department at this site.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister informed the Legislative Assembly that an amount of Rs. 279.83 lakh was spent during 2014–15 on the construction of the Yatri Base Camp at Sungli and rain shelter sheds at Kailash Kund, Bhaderwah.
The Chief Minister, who also holds the Tourism portfolio, said that in 2017, the asset was outsourced for a period of three years at Rs. 24 lakh. He further informed that it was again outsourced for ten years during 2024–25 at Rs. 26.25 lakh per year, with a 10 percent escalation after every year.
He said that the outsourcing was undertaken to strengthen the revenue base of the Bhaderwah Development Authority (BDA), enabling it to meet day-to-day operational requirements such as the maintenance of parks and gardens, resorts, tourist huts, guest houses and other infrastructure.
Responding to a query on whether the government is planning to cancel the outsourcing of the Yatri sheds, the Chief Minister stated that the present government has inherited the situation, as the initial outsourcing took place earlier.
“It was outsourced before October 24, 2024, and has been given for ten years. The question of cancellation will require examination of the legal and financial implications. We will have to see whether it can be cancelled or not,” he said.
The Chief Minister added that while the decision was taken by the department at that time, the government will ensure that such outsourcing is avoided in the future.
“The existing contract is for ten years. After that, it should not be outsourced. New infrastructure that is to be created should be used for yatris and not outsourced,” he said.
The Chief Minister was replying to a question raised by MLA Bhaderwah, Daleep Singh, regarding steps taken for the construction of new Yatri sheds along the Roushra Mata, Kailash Yatra and Manimahesh Yatra routes in Bhaderwah constituency.
He informed the House that the Executive Engineer (R&B) Division Bhaderwah has been requested to prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the construction of shelter sheds, kiosks and public convenience complexes at various tourist locations in Bhaderwah, including the pilgrimage routes.
“The project shall be taken up under the relevant scheme, subject to approval by the competent authority and availability of funds,” the Chief Minister added.
