Firdous Ahmad
SRINAGAR, July 7: In a significant step towards safeguarding Jammu and Kashmir’s rich cultural legacy, the Department of Archives, Archaeology, and Museums has rolled out two landmark initiatives—Mission Inspection and a CSR-backed digital preservation project—both aimed at revitalizing heritage sites and monuments across the Union Territory.
Launched for the first time in J&K’s heritage management history, “Mission Inspection” is a UT-wide operation involving six dedicated teams assigned to inspect the preservation and conservation status of works executed under various revival schemes. The inspection conducted from June 25 to June 30, 2025, covered protected monuments and heritage structures under both Phase-I and Phase-II of the Revival, Restoration, Preservation & Maintenance of Architecture and Heritage Scheme.
The mission has been coordinated in collaboration with Divisional Commissioners of Kashmir and Jammu, Administrative Secretary of the R&B Department, and Deputy Commissioners of all districts. These inspection teams, comprising Additional District Development Commissioners (ADDCs) and Executive Engineers, are responsible for ground-level audits and technical evaluations of conservation works under the CAPEX plan.
Speaking to our correspondent, Mr. Kuldeep Sidha, Director Archives J&K, emphasized the importance of such an exercise. “For far too long, our monuments were seen but never truly assessed. This mission gives us the first-hand insight needed to bring real accountability and intervention where required,” he said.
The teams will also visit State Protected Monuments to document the current condition, identify encroachments, and suggest necessary interventions. The findings will be presented to the respective Deputy Commissioners for monitoring and action, ensuring local authorities and executing agencies are held accountable for heritage conservation efforts.
In another breakthrough, the Department has undertaken a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Project, funded by J&K Bank to the tune of ₹1 crore, in collaboration with IUST Awantipora. This project focuses on the photogrammetry, GIS tagging, and documentation of archaeological sites and museum artifacts, including those housed in SPS Museum and Dogra Art Museum.
“This is the first-ever initiative of its kind by the department to digitize and host artifact data for public and scholarly access,” Mr. Sidha noted, calling it a “leap into the future of accessible heritage.” The initiative will help create a digitized database of cultural assets, which will be available on the department’s website for researchers, students, and the general public.
The technical mapping process by IUST Awantipora commenced from June 23, 2025, marking the start of a digital era in J&K’s heritage management.
These back-to-back initiatives highlight a new chapter for the Archives and Archaeology Department—one that blends on-ground conservation with cutting-edge technology to ensure that the cultural soul of Jammu and Kashmir is both preserved and shared widely.
“Our goal is simple but critical—protect what we have inherited, preserve it with pride, and present it with responsibility,” concluded Mr. Sidha.
