12% heritage sites have either dismantled or disappeared in Srinagar

The city of Srinagar is surrounded by heritage sites, but the non-implementation of the law to preserve these sites has resulted in the reduction of such places in the last two decades, News agency KNO reported.

12% heritage sites disappeared

Chairman INTACH, J&K Chapter, Muhammad Saleem Beigh said “over the last two decades, a total of 12 per cent of heritage sites or buildings have been completely dismantled, while six per cent are in danger of disappearing or found in an advanced state of decay”.

He said a total of 349 sites were identified and categorized as Grade I properties on the 2003 listing, while only 49 per cent of them are in good or fair condition.

"We recently conducted a survey again for the smart city project and found that 51 per cent of the heritage sites listed in 2003 are completely dismantled or show signs of disrepair. Furthermore, six per cent of them are in danger of disappearing or in an advanced state of decomposition,” he said.

Beigh further added that in 2010, a law regarding the preservation of heritage sites was formed, but so far it has not been implemented on the ground, leading to the demolition of heritage buildings and the disrepair of others as well. “Had the law been implemented, all the heritage sites would have been in good condition in Srinagar,” he said.

Reason; Lack of seriousness

The situation is due to a lack of seriousness and responsibility on the ground, he said, adding that the City is progressively losing heritage sites every year, but it is necessary to implement the law on heritage sites.

INTACH Chairman, J&K Chapter, while disclosing the details, said that during the recently conducted new survey, a total of 17 new sites were added in the Grade I category. “With the addition of 17 new sites, the City has a total of 307 heritage sites at present, which must be preserved and protected after the implementation of the law”, he said.

Industrial policy

“Recently, the central government came up with an industrial policy under which heritage sites have also been declared as an industry. The government has said it will provide a 30 per cent incentive for any activity started at heritage sites.

However, the J&K administration has unfortunately not recommended any cases to the central government so far, which would have helped to preserve heritage sites,” he said.

He added that there is a need to raise awareness, and guarantee the regulation and preservation of heritage sites and actions in this regard are imperative at this juncture.

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