Shadow Correspondent
jammu, MAR 29:
The Dogra Sadar Sabha (DSS) has again called for bringing the practice of annual Durbar move to an end. This was stated by DSS President Th Gulchain Singh Charak after chairing a meeting of the Central Working Committee of Dogra Sadar Sabha held here today. He said that this is essential for providing uninterrupted governance to both the regions of the Union Territory on a round the year basis and to provide relief from problems faced by the people of the two regions for six months every year. He pointed out that this one hundred and fifty year old practice is an outdated concept in view of the latest advancement in communication technology and results in wasteful and unnecessary expenditure involved in shifting the entire paraphernalia every six months, and on maintaining the huge infrastructure comprising office and residential accommodation in both the capital cities which is occupied only for six months of the year. Sh Charak thanked the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor Sh Manoj Sinha ji for his intervention which has resulted in quickening of the ongoing works of Conservation of the Mubarak Mandi Complex. He however expressed concern about the delay in strengthening of the slopes on the Tawi side of the complex which needs to be taken up urgently to avoid any mishap during the coming Monsoons. He pointed out that the condition in which the Archives record comprising 8 lakhs files had been temporarily kept in the Old Army Headquarters complex also required urgent attention. He emphasized that conservation work on the remaining Palaces in Mubarak Mandi also needs be taken up in right earnest so that the Complex is ready for the proposed celebrations for commemorating the 75th anniversary of India’s Independence in 2022.
He further demanded that the Jammu Festival which is held on 13th April every year needs to be organized on a grand scale, as was being done originally, and needs to showcase the culture of the region by engaging local artists instead of spending lakhs of rupees on artists from outside the Union Territory. He expressed dismay at the recently held ‘Fulkari’ Festival at Mansar focused on Punjabi artists, in which the local culture and artists had been ignored. He further announced that the Dogra Sadar Sabha proposes to organize a festival during Baisakhi this year based on local folk songs and dances to give the tourists a feel of the Dogra culture. Sh Charak further announced that the annual event “Aao Pakshion ko Pani Pilian” will also be held as usual on the 5th of May 2021 when a campaign to generate awareness about providing facilities for water to birds will be launched and containers will be distributed on the occasion to encourage people to create water points for birds.
He expressed anguish on the rampant cutting of the hillsides for 4-laning of the National Highway 44 from Ramban to Banihal by NHAI, without proper study of the topography as well as soil of the area, and in violation of the originally approved plan to construct this portion mainly as flyover on pillars. He pointed out that this is proving disastrous for the tourist spots and other villages on the Highway which have either already sunk or are on the verge of sinking due to landslide. Bye-passing of several tourist spots is also affecting the tourism industry adversely.
Sh Charak also called for provision of round the year access to the historic memorial of Raja Jambulochan as well as to Gandhi Bhawan and Zenana Park by shifting the boundary wall and entrance to Civil Secretariat sufficiently inside towards the building, to make the road in front of the secretariat free for thoroughfare by citizens and tourists.
Currently, there is no proper maintenance of the Jambulochan Park and even dead bodies being taken for cremation had to take a forced detour of nearly 3 kms for 6 months in a year.
Sh Charak also called upon all citizens and other social and commercial organizations of Jammu including political parties, who are concerned about the welfare of the people of the region, to come together to work for the interest of Jammu, rising above party lines, so that the interests and dignity of the region can be protected.
Amongst others who expressed their views in the meeting were; Col. Karan Singh Jamwal (Retd), Prem Sagar Gupta , Brig. M S Jamwal (Retd), Ajay khajuria, Janak Khajuria, Santosh Magotra, S . Hakumat Singh , S. Kulbir Singh, R S Manhas , Chhankar Singh, Raghubir Singh, Balwant Saini, Sat Paul, Bharat Bhushan Talwar, Rakesh Dogra, Madan Rangeela, Narinder Singh Jamwal, Onkar Nath Sharma , Rajinder Gupta, Shankar Singh, Balkar Singh and Madan Singh
