Srinagar, 25 June: The Department of Archives, Archaeology and Museums, Jammu and Kashmir, has launched a comprehensive week-long initiative titled ‘Mission Inspection’ to assess the status of heritage conservation and preservation efforts across the Union Territory.
Conceived by Director Kuldeep Krishan Sidha, the mission commenced on 25 June and will continue until 30 June 2025. As part of the initiative, six teams have been constituted to inspect 150 ongoing works and 54 State Protected Monuments being executed under Capex, Phase-I and Phase-II of the Scheme for Revival, Restoration, Preservation and Maintenance of Architecture and Heritage in J&K.
The inspection teams will assess each project within their assigned districts, including visits to State Protected Monuments, to record current status, identify gaps, and make recommendations for beautification and restoration. Particular attention will be given to any required interventions concerning encroachments or stalled works due to disputes, litigation, or lack of No Objection Certificates (NOCs). To ensure effective coordination, the teams will be accompanied by Nodal Officers and Jurisdictional Executive Engineers, facilitated by the Divisional Administration, respective Deputy Commissioners, and the Public Works (R&B) Department. A key objective of Mission Inspection is to foster greater collaboration between executing agencies and district administrations to ensure quality implementation within stipulated timelines. The mission will also conduct a needs assessment for Phase-III projects and recommend new monuments for notification as State Protected Sites. The inspection teams will brief the respective District Development Commissioners about project statuses, ongoing issues, and any administrative support required to ensure smooth execution.
