The Governor’s administration on Friday decided to forcefully take up with UNESCO the issue of designation of Srinagar’s Mughal Gardens and Neolithic Site at Burza Hama as World Heritage sites.

In this regard, advisor to the Governor, Khurshid Ahmed Ganai, chaired on Friday a meeting of senior officers of the concerned departments to discuss and finalise the modalities for moving the proposal.

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The meeting was attended by Rohit Kansal, principal secretary, Planning, Development and Monitoring Department, Shailendra Kumar, principal secretary, Industries and Commerce Department, Mohammad Saleem Shishgar, Commissioner/Secretary, Culture Department, and Muneer-ul-Islam, Director Archives, Archaeology and Museums.

Modalities for preparation of the dossier for submission to UNESCO and hiring of an expert through expression of interest (EoI) for preparation of the dossier were discussed in the meeting.

Ganai asked the Culture Department to float EoI for engaging a consultant to prepare the dossier and help in filing the nominations with UNESCO.

Mughal Gardens have retained a high degree of integrity and authenticity and are still thriving and amongst the most favoured sight-seeing destinations in Kashmir.

The site of Burzahama is a unique comprehensive story-teller of life between 1500 BC and 1000 BC and provides a detailed insight into the way of life of the Neolithic people when they even had not invented technique of pottery manufacturing.

Considering the immense historical significance of these sites, their inscription on the UNESCO List of World Heritage Sites will bring in much-needed international attention and appreciation to the gardens and Neolithic site. It will also increase the footfall of foreign tourists, researchers, students and prove to be an economic driver besides preservation.

The Advisor directed Commissioner/Secretary Culture Department and Director Archives, Archaeology and Museums to survey and bring more unique, heritage assets/ properties of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh in the shape of monuments/ structures within the tentative list, focusing on theme-based approach.