SRINAGAR: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today visited the historic Shalimar Mughal Garden to review the ongoing conservation efforts being carried out with support from the JSW Foundation under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program.
Accompanying the Chief Minister were the Commissioner Secretary of Floriculture, Gardens & Parks, the Director of Floriculture Kashmir, and representatives from the JSW Foundation.
During the visit, the Chief Minister inspected several key heritage structures within the garden, including the Pink Pavilion, Rani Mahal, and Black Pavilion. He received detailed briefings on the progress of restoration and conservation activities.
Omar Abdullah issued on-the-spot instructions to accelerate the pace of work and ensure timely completion of all pending tasks while preserving the heritage’s authentic character.
Notably, six Mughal Gardens in Kashmir, including Shalimar, are currently listed on UNESCO’s Tentative List of World Heritage Sites. The Department of Floriculture is actively engaged in restoration and conservation initiatives aimed at safeguarding the gardens’ originality, authenticity, and cultural significance for future generations.
The ongoing work focuses on structural repairs, landscape enhancement, preservation of architectural details, and improving visitor amenities — all in keeping with the garden’s historical essence.
The Chief Minister praised the joint efforts of the Department and the JSW Foundation in protecting this priceless heritage and emphasized the importance of continued conservation measures.
