M HYDERI

WITHIN nine months of Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah’s resolve that the historic Zaina Kadal bridge wouldn’t be demolished but conserved, his government has seemingly started vandalization of the heritage structure by construction of shops on this link across  river Jhelum.
 The development has popped up at a time when the National Conference led government swears to be working to revive the lost glory of old City, the Shahr-e-Khaas; but has ended up doing something feared to deteriorate the heritage aspect of this famed area, inhabited for the past over six centuries.
 
THE CONSTRUCTION
 Some 30 shops are coming up on the bridge, named after its founder, the 15th century emperor of Kashmir: Sultan Zain-Ul-Abideen. And to come up with these structures speedily, the GI roofing sheets are being nailed on the wooden frames.
 “Government wants to come up with the construction quickly so that before any objection is raised by heritage lovers, the shops will have been allotted,” said a senior official requesting not to be named.
WHY CONSTRUCTION?
 The shops are being constructed on the bridge to rehabilitate the shopkeepers whose establishments on the right of the river towards Vakil Manzil, a landmark structure in the area, are to be removed for proposed road widening and construction of a new bridge.

ROAD WIDENING IRONY
 But there’s already a trouble with the proposed removal of structures there. Observers said Vakil Mazil, which has been declared a heritage structure, needs to be conserved at any cost.
 The government plan to demolish the structure –partnered by Mrs Abdur Raouf Vakil and other shareholders –is feared to be brazen violation of the Jammu and Kashmir Heritage Conservation and Preservation Act of 2010, which seeks conservation of such structures.
 A magnificent structure, Vakil Manzil was among the best riverside buildings with 18 traditional windows, locally called Taakhs. This riverside house has hosted personalities including Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Dr Sir Muhammad Iqbal apart from being the office of Muslim Conference, the party which ultimately transformed into the present National Conference.
 The government, however, till now hasn’t turned down the plan but intends to raze down the historic building.
 A reason to this stubbornness could be that all the eight MLAs from Srinagar belong to the ruling NC and so there are bleak chances of any opposition.

MAKING UGLY
 Prominent expert on heritage Muhammad Saleem Beg condemned the development saying it would be disastrous as the shops would make the Zaina Kadal bridge look ugly and equally be a visual disruption.
 Hinting towards the claims of local MLA and Cabinet Minister Ali Muhammad Sagar that to promote tourism river cruise would be started for Shaher-e-Khaas, Beg said: “On one hand they speak of introducing river cruise and on the other they are disrupting the panoramic view through these ugly structures… It speaks the mindset of persons who are constructing it(shops).”
 Beg said the government wants to make the place look “as ugly as possible.”
 Peeing into the history, Beg who heads the state chapter of INTACH a prominent organization into heritage conservation said, till around a century ago Zaina Kadal and its adjoining Fateh Kadal used to have traditional thatched roof shops on the bridge. “But then it can’t be compared with present because City demands have changed over century,” Beg observed.
 
NC CLAIMS
 Since the NC led government came to power it had been trying to get the heritage bridge demolished. But following severe public criticism, in July last year, the idea was turned down following intervention of the CM who reportedly directed officials of the Roads and Buildings Department not to demolish the Zaina Kadal bridge.
 
OFFICIALS SPEAK
 District Development Commissioner, Baseer Ahmed Khan has his own take on the issue.  While acknowledging that the shops were being constructed by the government, he said there was nothing wrong in doing so and wouldn’t affect the heritage character of the bridge.
 “We are not removing the bride but simply constructing shops over there. How does it matter?” he argued. (To be concluded)

Lastupdate on : Tue, 6 Mar 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 6 Mar 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 7 Mar 2012 00:00:00 IST