Major development, preservation initiatives of ASI underway at Parihaspora, Pattan, Tappar: CM Omar

Jammu. Feb 4: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Wednesday, said that the conservation, protection and major developmental interventions at Parihaspora, Pattan and Tappar were being undertaken by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

While replying to a related question in the Legislative Assembly, raised by MLA Pattan, Javid Riyaz Bedar, stated that the mandate for promotion of heritage tourism at the heritage sites of Parihaspora, Pattan and Tappar vested with the ASI.

“The Department of Culture is mandated with the revival, restoration and conservation of Jammu and Kashmir’s valuable heritage sites, and several initiatives have been undertaken in this regard at key locations including Parihaspora, Pattan and Tappar,” the Chief Minister, who also holds the portfolio of Culture and Tourism departments, informed the House.

He said that with a view to facilitating tourists, the J&K Tourism Department constructed a tourist cafeteria at Parihaspora to provide basic amenities to visitors. He added that the facility would be further renovated and upgraded to enhance service delivery.

Providing details of the initiatives taken by the Culture Department, the Chief Minister said that Goverdhan, Parihaspora was a State Protected Monument declared vide SRO-408 dated September 19, 2013. “Protection measures, including the installation of chain-link fencing around the monument, have been completed during FY 2024–25 under the capex budget at an estimated cost of Rs 39.89 lakh,” he said.

Similarly, Divar Yakhmanpora, Parihaspora is a state-protected monument declared vide SRO-337 dated August 31, 1989. The site comprises an ancient temple complex currently under excavation.

“The excavation work was initiated during the financial year 2023–24 under phase-I of the Scheme for Revival, Restoration, Preservation and Maintenance of Architecture and Heritage in J&K, with an estimated cost of Rs 373.10 lakh. About 60 percent of the excavation work has been completed. As the process involves manual excavation, the work is likely to continue into the next financial year. The site is being actively looked after by the department,” CM Omar stated.

He informed that in Pattan, a heritage site comprising a temple and spring near Sukh Nag was declared state protected monument vide SRO-517 dated August 29, 2019. Restoration and development works at the Sukh Nag spring and temple were undertaken during the financial year 2024–25 under the same scheme at an estimated cost of Rs 229.92 lakh.

The Chief Minister added that the site was completely restored and was being maintained by the Department.

Regarding Tappar, the Chief Minister said that the Tappar heritage site is a centrally protected monument under the administrative control of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), and accordingly, no initiative has been taken by the department at this site.