Jammu: Stressing the need for cultural revival and heritage preservation, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday directed officials to engage with stakeholders to formalize a robust cultural policy for the region.
In a meeting held at the Civil Secretariat, the Chief Minister emphasized the importance of creating a comprehensive Cultural Policy that would protect and promote Jammu and Kashmir’s unique heritage.
“Engage with the stakeholders to formalize a robust Cultural Policy,” Omar Abdullah instructed.
Chief Minister also underscored the role of Tehzeeb Mahal in Srinagar in promoting local artists, directing the department to expand the available space to better align with its original vision.
He called for the immediate revival of the Naagar Nagar restoration project at the foothills of Hari Parbat, which had been halted for a decade due to the deterioration of its walls.
Additionally, Omar Abdullah reviewed ongoing projects like the Mubarak Mandi Heritage Complex restoration and the digitization of archival records. The digitization project has been completed in Jammu and is halfway through in Srinagar, with six lakh records being relocated to a new facility near Kala Kendra at a cost of Rs 7.2 crore.
Key infrastructure initiatives were also discussed, including the operationalization of a new archival repository, modernization of the SRS Library under the Smart City Project, and the restoration of 16 heritage sites.
Chief Minister also reviewed the progress of several library and cultural infrastructure projects, all aimed at ensuring the preservation and promotion of Jammu and Kashmir’s rich cultural legacy.
With these directions, Omar Abdullah reaffirmed the government’s commitment to cultural preservation and development, ensuring that Jammu and Kashmir’s heritage continues to thrive for future generations.
In another meeting, Chief Minister directed officials to liaise with the Ministry of Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Government of India, to ensure NeVA is operationalized before the upcoming budget session of J&K Legislative Assembly.
Chairing a review meeting of the Department of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs here at the Civil Secretariat, Abdullah also discussed other components that included the classification of laws, appointment of officers in-charge of litigations, opinion and vetting of notifications, and the department’s achievements in 2023-24.
During the review, the Chief Minister assessed the functioning of the High Court, subordinate courts, the Advocate General’s Office, and the Legislative Assembly.
He was briefed on the sanctioned strength of the judiciary and discussed key issues, including ongoing litigations, e-stamping, e-courts, and e-court fee systems.
The implementation of the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) in the J&K Legislative Assembly was a key point of discussion.
The Chief Minister also reviewed the Rs 908 crore new High Court Complex project in Srinagar, enquiring about progress, timelines, and phase-wise completion of the project.
He emphasized the importance of adhering to deadlines to ensure the timely delivery of this critical infrastructure.
