“Please take care of this art piece, please don’t stick bills (over it),” read two signposts beneath Hyderpora flyover along the road leading to Srinagar International Airport. Though no bills have been glued, the authorities have themselves blocked the view of the ‘art peace’ —traditional mural paintings, by allowing installation of a hoarding in front of them.
“A big HDFC Bank hoarding has been erected in front of thesemurals. The authorities could have simply designated some other place forhoarding to protect the view of the traditional murals, but surprisingly it didnot do so despite the fact that it had appealed others to take of this artpiece,” an official who wished not to be named, said.Â
The mural paintings on the pillars of the flyover were doneto highlight the traditions of Kashmir as also to give it an attractive look.”The paintings were appreciated even by the foreign tourists,” said a seniorgovernment official, wishing not to be named.
“Ironically, someofficials at the helm in the Srinagar Municipal Corporation have allowedblocking of the view of the paintings by permitting installation of hoarding infront of them,” the official said, adding that this act is “universallyunacceptable”.
“Even if it was imperative to install the hoarding, therewere several open spots along the flyover and the roadside where it could havebeen installed. But selecting the spot beneath the flyover defies logic as ithas defeated the very objective of the mural paintings. The SMC needs torevisit its decision and take corrective measures,” said an artist.
The initiative to paint the city walls was taken by the SMCin May 2015 with an aim to “fill the blank spaces and give the currentgeneration an insight into what we were”.
The SMC had said that it was a pilot project and thecorporation would wait for reactions from the people before moving further. Theproject was launched under the supervision of noted artist Masood Hussain.
Commissioner, Srinagar Municipal Corporation, Ghazanfar Alisaid: “I have directed officials concerned to ensure that the hoarding erectedin front of the murals is removed.”
He said he has further directed that glory to the muralpaintings should be “restored” with the help of artists. “The SMC is ready toprovide them all necessary help in doing this.”
He said in order to beautify Srinagar through art, “I havedirected that these types of mural paintings should be done at ten differentlocations through IEC partners. It will present a pleasant view at the sametime highlight our culture.”