Conservation of heritage sites in Jammu and Kashmir is included in the priority list of the state government, a minister said here today. "Conservation of heritage sites in Jammu and Kashmir is in priority list of the state government", Minister for Health, Sham Lal Sharma said after inaugurating two-day national workshop on 'History and Archaeology of Northern India', at Police Auditorium.
The w
orkshop was organised by Archaeological Survey of India, Srinagar circle in order to celebrate calendar event of its 150th anniversary. "Measures are afoot to bring all heritage sites and monuments on tourism map of Jammu and Kashmir," Sharma said. The minister said the government has gone into an overdrive to showcase state's rich heritage so that a new window is opened for the visitors camping to the state.
Re-emphasising the government commitment to link Ladakh, Kashmir and Jammu by preserving heritage sites and working on their upkeep, Sharma said instructions have been issued to concerned authorities to fast track conservation and protection of historical monuments and sites.
The minister said that under 13th Finance Commission, Rs 50 crore has been sanctioned by the Centre for restoration of Mubarak Mandi heritage complex. In the present tenure of National Conference-Congress government, restoration and conservation work of several heritage sites which includes famous forts of Bahu Fort, Chingus, Bhimnagar, Samba, Hiranagar, Ramnagar, Lakhanpur, Poonch, Akhnoor and Reask have been taken up, he said. On this occasion, the official website of Srinagar circle www.asisrinagar.com was also launched.
