Committee set up to conduct census of heritage shrines in Jammu and Kashmir

Jammu, September 10

The J&K government on Thursday set up a 12-member high powered committee for revival and restoration of architectural heritage, including temples and shrines in the Union Territory.

An order was issued by the General Administration Department (GAD) for the constitution of executive and district level committees in this regard. “Sanction is hereby accorded to constitution of executive committee and district level coordination-cum-implementation committees for approving action plans for implementation of scheme for revival, restoration, preservation and maintenance of architecture and heritage in J&K,” stated an order issued by Commissioner-Secretary, GAD, Manoj Kumar Dwivedi.

There are hundreds of temples, shrines and heritage sites in dilapidated condition in J&K, mostly in the Kashmir valley.

Heritage temples like Martand Sun temple complex, Narayan Nag temple complex, Awantisumin temples and Sugendishwara temple are in bad shape and the displaced Kashmiri Pandits had been repeatedly demanding reconstruction and restoration of all temples in Kashmir valley that have been destroyed or damaged. The 12-member panel headed by the chief secretary will have five experts to be nominated by the government, the order said. — PTI