With just two months remaining for submitting its application, time is running out for Srinagar to make a strong case. The usual government lethargy has already resulted in loss of around six months. The tender for “Consultancy Services For Preparation Of Dossier For Inclusion Of Srinagar City In UNESCO Creative Cities Network” was floated in 10 October 2018 and was to be opened on 27 November 2018. However,  the process got dragged into bureaucratic hurdles and was opened only on 22 April 2019.  The tender was won by joint team of  Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) Kashmir chapter, and Gurgaon based firm Dronah.

 “The tender had one condition that the applicant should have prepared at least one dossier for any winning city previously. We collaborated with Dronah that had prepared Jaipur dossier,” said Saleem Beg, convenor INTACH. 

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“We should have bagged the tender last year but it got delayed thus shrinking our working time. Ideally we need six months to prepare a dossier but now we are left only with two months,” said Beg as he spearheads the work ranging from organising workshops, meeting artisans and dashing to New Delhi to meet exporters of Kashmir art and craft.

Despite the workload, Beg is hopeful of completing the dossier well in time for the competition.

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