Jammu Tourism Dept – A sordid saga of incompetence (II)

Purmandal-UttarBehni left high & dry since 2015-16

Prior to the seemingly delusional plan of revamp under PRASAD, revered shrines of Purmandal-Uttarbehni were poised for development and inclusion in the tourism circuit of Jammu province in 2015-16. But the political and government apathy dashed those hopes.

Official documents reveal that during the financial year 2015-16, a temple circuit, among several other initiatives, was envisaged in the draft tourism policy that was to be worked upon under Prime Minister’s Development Package to give fillip to the pilgrim tourism in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. Restoration and development of Purmandal-UttarBehni was to be done as part of this initiative.

The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) prepared a Vision Document for the same, putting forth components like preservation of temples, bowlis, havelis, creation of tourist facilities, parking, toilets, improvement of existing bus stand etc. in the Purmandal-UttarBehni circuit.

“The Vision Document was submitted to the Surinsar Mansar Development Authority, Directorate of Tourism Jammu for further necessary actions. What happened after that is not known. If it had been approved and acted upon, the next step would have been the preparation of Detailed Project Report and subsequently, funding, and beginning of restoration and developmental works. However, that was not the case,” tell the source, closely connected with the whole exercise.

Given the apathy of politicians and government officials towards Jammu province, the Vision Document was allegedly not processed or submitted to the Centre for seeking approval.

Moreover, when INTACH requested concerned officials for its fee for preparing the Vision Document, they tossed it around from Directorate of Tourism Jammu to Surinsar Mansar Development Authority to District Commissioner Office Samba to Secretariat.

“The painstaking process of preparing Vision Document in collaboration with art conservationists, heritage architects, some of them called from outside J&K, went down the drain. Neither was the Purmandal-UttarBehni project taken up under PMDP, nor was INTACH paid for its services,” rues the source.

He points out that while Purmandal-UttarBehni shrines were left and high dry in 2015-16, a large chunk of Rs 2241 Crores earmarked then for tourism projects under PMDP was spent only on Kashmir division.

Read: Jammu Tourism Dept – A sordid saga of incompetence (I)

“Significant number of tourism projects mooted then for Kashmir division have been completed, or are being completed. And here we are, still waiting for approvals and fundings – from PMDP or PRASAD,” says a resident of Samba adding, “Look at the pace at which facelift work at Dargah Hazratbal shrine in Srinagar is going on under PRASAD.”

“2015-16 was the time when PDP-BJP alliance ruled the erstwhile state. BJP couldn’t safeguard the interests of Jammu province which elected the party to power. And it is not able to do so even now. Some time ago, Jugal Kishore Sharma, Member of Parliament from Jammu-Poonch Constituency, held a meeting to discuss Purmandal-UttarBehni project, but did he make any efforts to liaison at the Centre for approval of the project plan for availing funds either under PMDP or PRASAD?” he asks.

Pertinent to mention that a second attempt to restore and develop Purmandal-Uttarbehni shrines was made by CEO SMDA in 2018. The proposal under PMDP Phase 2 was submitted to the Secretary, Tourism Department J&K, on 13^th December 2018. It comprised of two components – one for Uttarbehni at the cost of Rs 376.25 Lakhs and one for Purmandal at Rs 1531.88 Lakhs.

The tourist infrastructure that had to be developed at UttarBehni were: Tourist Amenities Centre (Rs 75 Lakhs); Riverfront Development (Rs 50 Lakhs); Lighting along riverfront (Rs 25 Lakhs); Development of parking space (Rs 30 Lakhs); Physical infrastructure – drinking water station, toilet, lamp post, benches, dustbins (Rs 65 Lakhs); tourist infrastructure – footwear kiosk, directional signage, tourist information kiosk (Rs 40 Lakhs); entrance gateway (Rs 50 lakhs); construction of 3 viewpoints (Rs 15 Lakhs).

The tourist infrastructure that had to be developed at Purmandal were: Tourist infrastructure – footwear kiosk, directional signage, tourist information kiosk (Rs 35 Lakhs); Entrance gateway (Rs 25 Lakhs); construction of tourist facilitation centre (Rs 200 Lakhs); physical infrastructure – toilets, drinking water station, lamp post, benches, dustbins (Rs 150 Lakhs); conservation and restoration – removal of debris and restoration, renewal of plaster and plastering, repainting (Rs 100 Lakhs); extension of bathing area (Rs 20 Lakhs); development of ghats – pathway and pavement, leveling and filling, area development for rituals, illumination of ghats (Rs 150 lakhs); landscaping of area around temples (Rs 100 lakhs); Multipurpose hall; spiritual growth centre, mini stadium ashram with vatikas, water bodies (Rs 500 Lakhs); development of bowli/ traditional stepwell (Rs 10 Lakhs); pre-fab (foldable) bathing ghats (Rs 20 lakhs); construction of 3 view points (Rs 15 lakhs); development of parking space of approx 10 kanals (Rs 100 lakhs).

However, it remained only on papers.

Prahlad Singh Patel’s stress for development of Purmandal-UttarBehni under Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive (PRASAD) scheme, during his visit to Jammu in 2019, is the third attempt. The execution is yet to take off, as Directorate of Tourism Jammu ‘aches’ for nod from Ministry of Tourism after one and a half year of DPR submission.

Also: Read my article at The News Now