Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo today chaired a high-level meeting to review the Culture Department's ongoing efforts for the revival, restoration, preservation, and maintenance of Jammu and Kashmir’s rich heritage and architecture.
The meeting, attended by senior officials including the Principal Secretary, Culture Department, Secretary PWD, Divisional Commissioners, and heads of key cultural institutions, focused on project progress under the Capex budget and the heritage conservation scheme.
Dulloo emphasized timely completion of all ongoing projects and called for a professional approach to conserving historical sites. He stressed the importance of securing administrative approvals promptly and ensuring that each district receives adequate attention in the selection of heritage conservation projects.
A major focus was on the Mubarak Mandi Heritage Complex (MMHC), with directions issued to make it a vibrant cultural hub through regular events in collaboration with the Academy of Art, Culture & Languages. The Department of Archaeology was instructed to develop an adaptive reuse plan for restored structures and expedite the opening of a reading room-cum-cafeteria and nearby parking facilities.
The Chief Secretary also reviewed progress on the restoration of Shergarhi Palace, construction of Tehzeeb Mahal, and the installation of a vertical lift between Peerkho and MMHC. Updates were provided on efforts to modernize SPS Museum in Srinagar and the status of its revised DPR.
Principal Secretary Culture, Brij Mohan Sharma, informed the meeting that Rs 132 crore has been allocated for the department for 2025–26, with Rs 120 crore earmarked for heritage conservation. The department is collaborating with IUST and SMVDU for technical support.
Additional highlights include:
33 projects underway under Phase I (Rs 64.25 crore).
73 projects identified under Phase II; 71 DPRs prepared and 61 already approved.
Restoration of Tagore Hall (Rs 2 crore), Abhinav Theatre (Rs 2.23 crore), and Kala Kendra (Rs 1.5 crore) approved.
Director Archives, Archaeology & Museums, K.K. Sidha provided updates on modernization of the SPS Museum and the status of key heritage projects, including the upcoming Tehzeeb Mahal.
The department is also actively working toward securing UNESCO World Heritage status for six Mughal gardens in the Valley and declaring several archaeological sites as protected under ASI.
Regarding libraries, the department oversees 131 public libraries with a collection of over 14 lakh books and 5,580 manuscripts. Notably, the Oriental Research Library houses a 750-year-old Arabic medical manuscript, one of its most prized holdings.
Digitization efforts have so far covered 25.8 lakh pages in Srinagar and 55 lakh pages in Jammu, including the digitization of over 1,200 manuscripts.
The Chief Secretary called for accelerated efforts to protect and promote the region’s cultural and architectural legacy, with a focus on quality execution, accessibility, and historical integrity.