JAMMU, DEC 10: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today chaired a review meeting of the Department of Culture at the Civil Secretariat, focusing on revitalizing Jammu and Kashmir’s cultural heritage and infrastructure.
The meeting was attended by Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Additional Chief Secretary Dheeraj Gupta, Principal Secretary Finance Santosh D. Vaidya, Principal Secretary Culture Suresh Gupta, Secretary PWD, and other senior officials. Officers based in Kashmir joined the meeting via video conferencing.
During the meeting, the Chief Minister emphasized the original vision behind the Tehzeeb Mahal in Srinagar, stressing its importance as a platform for promoting local artists.
“Tehzeeb Mahal must serve as a space where artists can showcase their talent while preserving its core theme. Wherever possible, the available space should be expanded to align with this vision,” he said.
Omar Abdullah also directed the department to revive the restoration of Naagar Nagar at the foothills of Hari Parbat, a project halted a decade ago, to preserve its deteriorating walls. Additionally, he called for the formulation of a comprehensive Cultural Policy for Jammu and Kashmir. “Engage with stakeholders to formalize a robust Cultural Policy,” he urged the department.
The Chief Minister further stressed the need to fill departmental vacancies to ensure the smooth functioning of the department.
Earlier, Principal Secretary Culture Suresh Gupta presented a detailed overview of the department’s operations, highlighting key initiatives through its directorates, including Archives, Archaeology & Museums, Libraries and Research, and the Academy of Art, Culture & Languages.
The meeting reviewed the progress of several key projects, including the restoration of the Mubarak Mandi Heritage Complex and archival repositories. The department also provided an update on the digitization of archival records, which is fully complete in Jammu and 50% complete in Srinagar. Six lakh records have been shifted to a new facility near Kala Kendra at a cost of Rs 7.2 crore.
Discussions also focused on the 100-day targets for cultural and heritage development in Jammu and Srinagar, which include operationalizing a new archival repository, modernizing the SRS Library under the Smart City Project, restoring 16 heritage sites, and completing several library and cultural infrastructure projects.
A special presentation on Tehzeeb Mahal highlighted its design, architectural heritage revival, and cultural elements, reinforcing the government’s commitment to preserving and promoting the rich cultural legacy of Jammu and Kashmir.
