Leh, Sept 09: In a crucial meeting, Ladakh’s Director General of Police, Dr SD Singh Jamwal, rallied officials to safeguard the region’s rich archaeological and cultural heritage.
The discussion focused on protecting Ladakh’s petroglyphs, rock art, monasteries, and caves, many of which face destruction from recent heavy rains and neglect.
Key actions include assessing rain-damaged monuments, documenting heritage sites, and proposing their protection to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
Plans for conservation, interpretation centers, and museums were also prioritized to preserve and promote Ladakh’s surviving cultural legacy.
The meeting was held in the presence of Additional Director General (Conservation, World Heritage, NCF), Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Janhwij Sharma; Director (Conservation) ASI, Sunder Paul; Deputy Director Archives UT Ladakh, Khadim Hussain; along with staff from the ASI Conservation Wing and the Archives Department, UT Ladakh.
The Officials inspected the affected sites to assess the extent of the damage and to plan strategies for safeguarding Ladakh’s archaeological heritage.
Several key issues were raised during the meeting, foremost among them the protection of Ladakh’s petroglyphs and rock art, many of which have already suffered destruction.
The meeting also stressed the need for village-to-village surveys and archaeological explorations to uncover evidence of ancient civilizations and cultural heritage. These findings will be systematically documented and preserved.
In conclusion, the meeting resolved to take concrete steps for the protection, documentation, and promotion of Ladakh’s archaeological and cultural legacy. It was also informed that petroglyph parks will be established in both Leh and Kargil districts.
Earlier, the team visited several monument sites in Leh and Kargil to assess damages caused by the recent rainfall and to identify new heritage sites across Ladakh.
The Additional Director General (Conservation, World Heritage, NCF), Shri Janhwij Sharma; Director (Conservation) ASI, Shri Sunder Paul; Deputy Director Archives UT Ladakh, Shri Khadim Hussain; along with staff from the ASI Conservation Wing and Archives Department, UT Ladakh, visited Rangdum Monastery, Karchey Khar Chamba, and Apati Chamba in Kargil. In Leh, the team inspected Leh Palace, Tsemo, Phyang, Wanla, and Lamayuru monasteries to assess the damage caused by the recent heavy rainfall.
It was further informed that Karchey Khar Chamba has been adopted by the ASI, while Apati Chamba will be adopted in the coming days.
