Srinagar, Aug. 31 -- Kashmir's historic buildings belong in the public policy debate as cultural assets, rather than being treated mainly as private property.

Old mosques, shrines, homes, bazaars and streets form the physical record of centuries of social and economic life. Their value extends beyond the land on which they stand, and their loss imposes a cost on the wider city.

Srinagar's historic quarters demonstrate why this issue demands stronger public action. Their buildings and precincts connect religious life, commerce, craftsmanship and community institutions.

The Jammu and Kashmir Heritage Conservation and Preservation Act, 2010 recognises this wider value by covering historic buildings, structures, streets, precincts, artefac...