Mubarak Mandi blaze: House panel to review probe findings

Tribune News Service

Jammu, August 21

Taking cognisance of the slow pace of the ongoing renovation works on the historic Mubarak Mandi complex, the Joint House Committee today decided to look into the findings of the probe ordered into the cause of fire incidents that took place in the complex over the years.

A meeting of the committee was held in Srinagar today under the chairmanship of MLC Sajjad Ahmed Kichloo to review the progress of the Mubarak Mandi Heritage complex. Legislators, GN Monga, Surinder Kumar Choudhary, Rajesh Gupta and Charanjeet Singh also attended the meeting.

“The committee took a detailed review of the status of various components of the ongoing works and expressed concern over the slow pace of progress. The executing agencies and officers concerned were directed to speed up the pace to accomplish the project within the targeted period,” an official spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said the issue relating to the mysterious fire incident that took place in the complex a few years ago also figured in the discussion and the committee desired to get the findings of the probe, whichwas ordered by the authorities after the incident.In the fire incident, assets, including valuable antiques, were destroyed.

“The panel directed the Council Secretariat to call the Inspector General of Police, Jammu, in its next meeting along with relevant record pertaining to the incident and its findings for the information of the committee,” the spokesperson added.

The spokesperson further said the committee issued specific instructions to the officers and the executing agencies to maintain the quality of work strictly as per the approved detailed project report and specifications with special focus on preserving its original historical key architectural features and pristine glory.

The committee also called for the restoration of ‘Chabutra’ on the premises of Mubarak Mandi as per its original features as it was the main attraction of this historical heritage centre.

The case

On December 15, 2006, a devastating fire broke out in the Mubarak Mandi complex, a heritage place which was once the seat of power of erstwhile Dogra rulers of the state. It houses treasury of Maharaja’s period known as “Tosha-Khana”. Later, the antiques of Maharaja’s period were shifted from the Mubarak Mandi to the civil secretariat and are still there till the complex gets renovated. Valuable articles, gold ornaments and decorative materials and utensils, etc were, however, saved from getting damaged.