The services of Heritage Consultants of international repute, hand-picked amidst fanfare to chalk out a strategy to restore Mubarak Mandi Heritage Complex, and whose formulated Master Plan for the same is being implemented, stand terminated.
Deepika Sharma, JKAS, Executive Director, Mubarak Mandi Jammu Heritage Society confirmed, “The services of M/s Sanrakshan Heritage Consultants Pvt Ltd have been terminated following a year of conflict. Now we have appointed an in-house conservation architect after getting proper approvals. Also, we are in process to revive old association with INTACH by making it a member of Governing Body. So that in future we have proper guidance if we review the Master Plan.”
It has also been learnt that to safeguard the pace and progress of ongoing projects, an Interim Committee is constituted, to facilitate the technical cell of MMJHS. The members include Associate Professor & Head, School of Architecture & Landscape Design, SMVDU, Chief Architect, Architect Organization Jammu, Conservation Architect (MMJHS).
Revealing the reason for the termination of services of the firm, she alleged, “The team lacked professionalism, failed to deliver and follow timelines, besides being non-cooperative with MMJHS. They were trying to mint money. As such, a Committee was formed by Divisional Commissioner Jammu which called for third party enquiry. They were found guilty and shown the door.”
The contract between MMJHS and the consultancy firm has been officially terminated on 26-06-2021 with the approval of Div Com Jammu.
Pertinently, Munish Pandit, hailing from Jammu, heads the M/s Sankrakshan Heritage Consultants Pvt Ltd. He has actively contributed towards conservation of national and international built heritages. He is a recipient of UNESCO Asia-Pacific Award for Cultural Heritage Conservation twice, and recently, has become the first Indian national to be elected President of the prestigious Bureau (Executive Body) of the International Committee on Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICICH).
His firm had qualified the bidding process for EOI notified by MMJHS for implementing conservation work. The contract agreement was signed on 19-02-2018 for providing professional advice and assistance in the speedy execution of the work of restoration, conservation and adaptive reuse of the entire Mubarak Mandi Heritage Complex within five years from the date of signing of the contract agreement.
The Master Plan being implemented at present, was prepared in July 2018 by his firm. It was approved in March 2019 by Satya Pal Malik, the then J&K Governor.
However, it has been alleged that despite repeated requests and notices, the consultancy firm failed to provide MMJHS with required material and services at various stages, deploy professionals to ensure technical supervision on site, follow timeline for different segments of work resulting in hampered and delayed physical progress of projects, in violation of the contract agreement. If this wasn’t enough, a contractor executing restoration project in Mubarak Mandi doubtful of discrepancies in firm’s working, had filed a complaint.
Thereafter, the matter was put before Chairman Executive Committee MMJHS/ Divisional Commissioner Jammu. He ordered for constitution of a committee comprising of Superintending Engineer Public Works Department Jammu, Chief Accounts Officer, Jammu Municipal Corporation and Deputy Director Planning, Divisional Commissioner Office Jammu vide Order No.03/Divcom/Pig/2021-22 dated 30-04-2021 to verify/re-examine the relevant official records of MMJHS with regard to M/s Sanrakshan Heritage Consultants Pvt. Ltd in light of contract agreement conditions and violation of contractual clauses.
The committee found comprehensive violations and submitted its report on 22-06-2021. Moreover, it recommended invocation of the clause 1.3 (i) of the contract agreement, providing for termination without any notice, if the Consultant has directly or indirectly or through an agent engaged in corrupt practice, fraudulent practice, coercive practice, restrictive practice (collectively the ‘prohibited practice’).
Subsequently, vide order No. 12-MMJHS of 2021-22, dated 06-2021, the contract between MMJHS and M/s Sanrakshan Heritage Consultants Pvt. Ltd was terminated with immediate effect.
With Conservation and preservation of the jinxed Mubarak Mandi Heritage complex changing hands from MMJHS to ASI to PWD to private consultants and now back to MMJHS it remains to be seen what unfolds for the decaying heritage of Jammu in future. More to follow.
Also: Read my article at The News Now
Jinxed Mubarak Mandi (I)
No end to ‘changing hands’ for Conservation
Published in The News Now on 30th July, 2021
waliaharry 