Saifuddin Soz urges J&K LG to consult local experts to conserve Mughal Gardens, scrap MoU with JSW Foundation

Former Union Minister and senior Congress leader Prof. Saifuddin Soz has urged J&K Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha to cancel the MoU signed with Jindal South-West Foundation for conservation of Mughal Gardens, pointing out that sufficient local expertise was available for the same.

In a statement issued on Friday, Soz that this was a manifestation of the Centre’s ‘hostile attitude towards the political mainstream of Kashmir’, as a result of which J&K administration was largely out of touch with local political mainstream parties.

“At a time when the Central govt. has adopted a hostile attitude towards the political mainstream of Kashmir, it is but natural that the local administration will not be interested to be in touch with the mainstream political class,” he said.

“It is almost twenty years ago that I had gone to the Nishat Garden in Srinagar to understand the implications of climate change from the Head Gardener there. That means we have sufficient expertise available with us. I urge the Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha to cancel the MoU with Jindal South-West Foundation in respect of conservation of Mughal Gardens. I would plead with him to hold a meeting with local experts on floriculture including the ones who have retired,” Soz added.

“It is a tragic situation that the administration is largely out of touch with the local political mainstream parties. The administration is also out of touch with local experts, who could advise it on certain developmental matters, especially conservation of Mughal Gardens in Srinagar,” he said.

“Furthermore, it is unfortunate that ‘agency system’ and ‘money factor’ have assumed primary importance in decision making process in the J&K UT, although it must be happening without the Lt. Governor being informed,” Soz added.