THE HINDU, MONDAY, JUNE 11, 2007

SRINAGAR AN ENDANGERED SITE

Shujaat Bukhari
SRINAGAR:
Srinagar has found a place in the watch list of 100 most endangered sites across the world

for 2008 by the New York based World Monuments Fund (WMF). The list is intended to call international attention to the challenges and threats facing cultural heritage sites. The announcement was made by the WMF president in New York on June 7 and communicated to Jammu and Kashmir chapter convener of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) M. Saleem Beg.

INTACH praised

Terming it as a defining moment for the historic city, Tourism Secretary Naeem Akhtar said this would provide an opportunity to promote the city nationally and internationally and to work towards its protection. He complimented the INTACH, saying: "it was due to its tireless efforts that it has become possible to see this city in the list."
The WMF communiqué to Mr. Beg said, "traditional structures built to survive earthquakes are suffering as a result of ongoing instability and conflict."
The efforts to protect the historic areas of Srinagar were part of a new emphasis in the region on heritage tourism and the local arts and crafts industry, which formed the backbone of the State's economy, it added.
"Watch Listing may lend timely support to these efforts and help increase public awareness of this important historic city."

Famous monuments

Founded between the Jhelum river and the Dal Lake in the mid-third century BC, Srinagar reached its apogee in the 15th and 16th centuries, according to the WMF.
The city's most famous monuments, including Shalimar and Nishat Gardens, were built after Emperor Akbar captured the province of Kashmir in 16th century. During the British rule, colonial-style colleges, hospitals, and courts were constructed.
"In the downtown area of the city are less well-known residences, mosques, temples, hammams, and bazaars constructed in the local vernacular of timber and masonry architecture. Together, these buildings represent an unusually intact pre-modern urban environment," the WMF said.
Mr. Beg said that besides funding, the attention would help a great deal in protecting Srinagar.

Pilot project

The INTACH, he said, had submitted a pilot project for Rs. 27 crore, which includes 10 small projects of beautification of the Jhelum, the Mughal gardens, the Hariparbhat fort and houses along the Rainawari canal.
The nomination was endorsed by the State Tourism Department, which is also concentrating on heritage tourism.
The INTACH nominated Srinagar earlier in 2002 and 2004 but it did not find favour for many reasons.

Leh included

The WMF has included Leh old town in the list along with Srinagar. The watch list is released every two years.

                                 GREATER KASHMIR, SATURDAY, JUNE 09, 2007

CONFLICT THREAT TO SRINAGAR HERITAGE: WMF
City among World’s 100 Endangered Sites
UNITED NEWS OF INDIA

Srinagar, June 8: Srinagar Heritage Zone and Leh Old Town in Jammu and Kashmir have been included on the New York-based World Monuments Fund (WMF) watch list of the 100 most endangered sites across the globe for 2008.

WMF, the foremost private and non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of endangered architectural and cultural sites around the world, released the watch list in New York on June 6.
Every two years, WMF announces the World Monuments Watch list of 100 most endangered sites to call international attention to cultural heritage sites around the world threatened by neglect, vandalism, armed conflict, challenges or natural disaster.
Inclusion on the list would promote the site locally and internationally and help in its protection.

On Srinagar Heritage Zone, WMF said, “The traditional structures built to survive earthquakes are suffering as a result of ongoing instability and conflict.”

The efforts to protect the historic areas of Srinagar were part of a new emphasis in the region on heritage tourism and the local arts and crafts industry, which formed the backbone of Jammu and Kashmir’s economy, it added.

“Watch Listing may lend timely support to these efforts and help increase public awareness of this important historic city.” Founded between the Jhelum River and Dal Lake in the mid-third century BC, the city of Srinagar reached its apogee in the 15th and 16th centuries, according to WMF.

The city’s most famous monuments, including Shalimar and Nishat Gardens, were built after Mughal Emperor Akbar captured the province of Kashmir in the 16th century. During the 18th and 19th century British occupation of Srinagar, colonial-style colleges, hospitals, and courts were constructed, it added.

“In downtown area of the city are less well-known residences, mosques, temples, hammams, and bazaars constructed in the local vernacular of timber and masonry architecture. Together, these buildings represent an unusually intact pre-modern urban environment,” quotes WMF 

                                            RISING KASHMIR JUNE 30-JULY 06 2007

WMF WATCH LIST: THE CHALLENGES AHEAD

Despite being listed among the 100 most endangered heritage sites, preserving the architecture of Srinagar’s old city will be a tough task

K.Asif
Srinagar

For the heritage lovers the long wait to see the historic Srinagar city finding a place in the watch list of World Monument Fund (WMF) is over. But the real challenge has begun now to see how this “distinction” could be fully exploited to turn it in to an opportunity to save the city, which has the largest timber architecture in the world.

From the Jammu and Kashmir Chapter of Indian National Trust for Art and Culture to Srinagar Municipal Corporation and Tourism Department to those representing civil society, it seems to be uphill task and more difficult than to get Srinagar included as a township in the watchlist.It was on June 6 when the WMF president announced in New York that Jammu and Kashmir’s summer capital Srinagar is one among the 100 endangered cities in the world. The Leh town of the state is also its part.

For those working at INTACH it was a dream coming true as they had been vigorously pursuing the cause with the WMF for the past four years.” I could not believe my ears when the WMF president called me up from New York to share the news with me” said M.Saleem Beg, INTACH’S J&K chapter convener. It was his organization which had nominated Srinagar and same was endorsed by State Tourism department. That is why both shared the joyous moment and addressed a joint press conference in Srinagar.”The inclusion of the old city of Srinagar in list consisting of historical sites threatened by neglect, vandalism, armed conflict or natural disaster has sensitized us towards the historical value of the site,” Tourism Secretary Naeem Akhter said.

Although those championing the cause have a reason to be happy as being on WMF watch list will open new vistas of development for the Srinagar city. Besides forcing the concerned departments to pay attention towards the threatened heritage, it is likely to attract tourists from all over the world to visit the place.

WMF’S decision is significant as it is not a portion of Srinagar but whole city with an area of 15 sqkm which has been declared as endangered. The city dates back its existence to 2500BC when it was called Puranadhisthana.

But the architecture which is threatened is in old city which was founded roughly in 14thc century. Being the largest area to be put on the WMF watch list, it covers a mixture of art, culture and heritage. On one side is the river front of Jhelum, which is another symbol of Kashmir’s rich civilization and on the other side, is the inner core of Srinagar spreading over a vast area.

The old city or downtown as it is popularly known has the richest traditional architecture which essentially is made of timber.
And as per ICOMOS (International Charter on Monuments and sites), the timber architecture is protected and historians say that Srinagar has the largest presence of timber architecture which includes vernacular houses, shrines and mosques besides wooden bridges. The Mughal monuments and a range of beautiful canals add to the beauty and grandeur of the city.

WMF has no doubt done a service to people of Kashmir by including the city in watch list but now the responsibility lies with the same people to wake up and make efforts to seize the opportunity. The challenges according to experts are manifold.

First and foremost is to save the traditional architecture from degradation. Upgrade civic amenities so that the area remains habitable and make ways for raising the economic stakes and that can only be done by enhancing its tourism potential.”

The immediate problem we face is that the historic character of this architect is being compromised and landscape is being changed and there is progressive degradation,” says Beig

To achieve these goals, however is not easy in view of government’s lackadaisical approach towards the problem.

What WMF has prompted the concerned to do can only be achieved in case the state has its own heritage law? In the past four years two successive chief ministers- Mufti Mohmmad Sayeed and Ghulam Nabi Azad- have promised to bring the law but nothing has moved.

A draft legislation has already been submitted to the government by the NGO’S.Inspite of the fact that India is signatory to UN charter on historic gardens, the four Mughal gardens in srinagar- Shalimar, nishat, Chasma Shahi and Pari Mahal are not out of the threat which is looming large over these monuments.

INTACH on it spart has already submitted a pilot project to WMF for around Rs 27 crores and identified 10 sites. And the government on its part claims to be serious.” We will certainly move forward to consolidate the gains by mobilizing all the concerned departments and will form a core group to follow it up,” said Naseem Lankar, State Secretary for Housing and Urban Development. The two years, however, are crucial for saving the rich treasure Srinagar has in respect of heritage.