Jinxed Mubarak Mandi (III) | Heritage defenders turn desecrators

EOI floated sans mandated approval

Assigned the role of heritage defenders and protectors, they have turned desecrators in the case of Mubarak Mandi, the royal residence of erstwhile Dogra rulers of Jammu and Kashmir.

In sheer violation of the procedures laid down for the Protected Monuments, the MMJHS has floated EOI for conversion of a part of this significant sentimental entity into a heritage hotel without seeking the mandated approval from the competent authority, even as the Department of Archives, Archaeology and Museums has been apprised of the development.

Pertinently, Mubarak Mandi Complex Heritage Complex is a Protected Monument vide SRO-126 dated:-26-04-2005. Therefore, no change or modification in the existing structure of the building can take place without the approval of the competent authority, in this case, Department of Archives, Archaeology and Museums.

Moreover, the Master Plan for restoration, conservation and adaptive reuse of the entire Mubarak Mandi Heritage Complex, at any point, does not suggest converting it into a commercial property.

However, it has come to the fore that the decision to float Expression of Interest for conversion of Zanana Mahal Complex of Mubarak Mandi Heritage Complex into a heritage hotel has been taken without seeking approval from the Department of Archives, Archaeology and Museums.

In an official letter to Director, Archives, Archaeology and Museums J&K, the copy of which is in possession of The News Now, it is mentioned “The Mubarak Mandi heritage Society has mooted the proposal for conversion of Zanana Mahal Complex with 6 palace building at Mubarak Mandi premises into heritage hotel. Reportedly, EOI for this purpose has been floated….MMJHS has taken this step without even informing our department, leave aside seeking our approval. The matter is reported for further necessary action at your end.”

Interestingly, the office of Assistant Director, Archives Archaeology and Museums is stationed at Old Secretariat, Mubarak Mandi, walking distance from the office of MMJHS.

Further, by the virtue of being a Protected Monument, Mubarak Mandi Heritage Complex is governed by Ancient Monument Preservation Act 1920 (Amendment 2010). As such, it can’t be converted into a commercial property until it is delisted as protected monument. Still, subsequent Executive Directors, MMJHS, namely, Ajay Khajuria, SM Sahni, Robin Singh Mehta, Saujanya Sharma, Rohit Khajuria, and now Deepika Sharma, have floated or supported the EOI for converting Mubarak Mandi into heritage hotel without getting the Complex delisted.

Still further, Gulchain Singh Charak, who has taken a moral u-turn now, was the one who passed the resolution when he was Vice Chairman, Governing Body, and Chairman, Executive Committee, MMJHS, which read, “The Committee proposes that inner courtyard as per the Vision Plan presented by the INTACH, New Delhi and earlier use of the Royal Families as Residential Palaces be leased out to one of the leading hotel chains of the Country for Conservation, Preservation/Restoration and operation of Heritage Hotel. The Expression of Interest with clear cut terms and conditions under PPP mode is proposed to be initiated by the MMJHS.”

It needs to be recalled here that conservation of Mubarak Mandi is being done as per the Master Plan approved in March 2019, and not the Vision Plan prepared by INTACH over a decade ago.

A resident of Jammu, whose family is one of those families which have been part and parcel of the Dogra heritage, asks, “What is the need to go back to those decisions? If they are so keen to take a journey into the past, they can execute decisions of maybe initial years of independence, or better, Dogra Rulers. But, they prefer to restrict the entry of locals by installing gates, terming it as ‘controlled access’ mentioned in Master Plan, give it off to big private players, also claiming that it is mentioned in Master Plan, and meanwhile, let it crumble to ruins.”

The past three weeks have seen a lot in the case of this heritage palace complex. Soon after the EOI was floated for conversion of the Complex into a heritage hotel, it came to fore that those tasked with the responsibility of protecting and conserving the heritage, were actually the ones who proposed the idea in the first place, around 14 years from now. With the absolute disregard to mandated approvals adding to the already murky waters, it remains to be seen what unfolds for the decaying heritage of Jammu in future.ds for the decaying heritage of Jammu in future.

Also: Read my article at The News Now