Jammu and Kashmir mulls on asking Centre to return antiques, manuscripts

Jammu and Kashmir government plans to take up with Union culture ministry the return of antiques and ancient manuscripts found during excavation at various sites in the state.State tourism minister Nawang Rigzin Jora, during a visit to an ancient Buddhist site in Harwan area of Srinagar yesterday, directed the Consultant, Tourism and Culture, to submit a report of antiquities excavated at Burzahama, ancient Buddhist site at Srinagar and Gilgit manuscripts lying with National Archaeological Department of India.The Preservation Act was also amended after a period of 90 years to provide protection to various monuments, he said, adding that the Heritage Conservation and Preservation Act has been also enacted for the same.During the last few years, a number of steps have been taken to identify and declare the unprotected monuments as state protected, besides conservation and restoration.Some of the monuments currently under restoration are Hariparbahat Fort, Beamgarh Fort, Bhau Fort and Samba Fort, he said.