Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Jan 29: Government is giving top priority to restore Khanyar shrine of Hazrat Syed Abdul Qadir Jeelani (RA) to its architectural glory and make it fire resistant. It is also installing effective fire fighting mechanism in the shrine absence of which devastated the shrine. However, it’s completion on time seems to be doubtful.
Over 200-year-old shrine of Dastigheer Sahib made of wood was gutted in June last year. The State Government had promised to construct the shrine on fast track basis in 2 years.
Saleem Beg, convener Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) Jammu and Kashmir Chapter, an organization which works for heritage conservation, said: “The shrine of Gaus-ul-Azam Dastigheer Sahib (RA) will be a blend of traditional and modern Islamic architecture, and to make this project successful we have to take care of even minor things.” He said that the new shrine will be replicate work of the gutted shrine.
JKPCC DGM Imtiyaz Khaliq said in order to make the shrine fire resistant, the fire retardant and resistant paint will be used on the wood. He said that this will make the wood fire resistant and give time to the firemen to extinguish it, if required. He said that fire proof board will be also be used on the ceiling so that fire doesn’t spread.
Since there was no proper fire fighting mechanism at the shrine, there will be two hydrants, one each at two entrances of the shrine, said Imtiyaz adding that fire alarm system is also being installed for effective fire fighting at the shrine.
The DGM said that there will be mobile fire extinguishers installed inside the shrine and it will have permanent illumination as façade lights are being installed in it. He said that electric wires will be fire proof so that chances of fire due to short circuit are reduced.
He said that the old shrine had only one entry and exit while the new shrine has multi entries and exits which will help at the time of calamity and help in effective fire fighting.
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Dr Asgar Samoon, said that latest fire fighting and fire alarm system is being installed in the shrine. “I think a water reservoir tank should have been constructed there for the safety of shrine,” he added.
Sajada Nisheen of the shrine, Syed Khalid Geelani is dissatisfied with the slow pace of work. He said since first day after the fire incident, the work remained stagnant for the first three months. “Despite having no budget and technical problems to start work on the shrine, the first three months from July to late October got wasted,” he said.
Geelani said that only 10-20 people are seen working on the construction of shrine on daily basis. “There should be more than hundred people working every day on it so that the work in completed on time,” he added.
The caretaker said that the roof of shrine should be complete by mid-February on the occasion of the annual Urs of Syed Abdul Qaqir Jeelani but the way work is going on it, it won’t be completed by then. “I fear how we will show the holy relics on this Urs to the devotees, who throng in thousands from far flung areas of Kashmir for having the glimpse of the relics,” he said. The caretaker said that Government has failed to deliver its promise of completing the structure and roof by annual Urs.
The caretaker of the shrine added that Wakf Board members take away lakhs of rupees offered by devotees every year to the shrine, but they don’t even construct few toilets for devotees. “The Wakf Board members should be held responsible for misusing of shrine funds and other valuable items. Where is the money going?” he asked.
When contacted, JKPCC officials about the slow pace of work, they said that the work is going on with good pace and they have completed 50 percent of structure within three months and blamed the Wakf Board for wasting first three months.
“Initially, the Wakf Board took the responsibility of its construction, when they didn’t start its work in first three months, then its construction work was handed over to us (JKPCC),” JKPCC DGM Imtiyaz Khaliq said.
The DGM said that within this short period of time, they have completed the building up to second-linter level with double brick work. “We have completed the work up to second-linter level with the width of three-feet and at the same time we took care of ornamental designs of windows and doors,” Imtiyaz added.
RDD Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar, MLA, Khanyar said, “The work is going on smoothly in the shrine and the Government is dedicated to complete its work within the stipulated period.” Sagar blamed the local people for blowing the small issues out of proportion and misleading the public. “There are some people in the area, who are unnecessarily spreading wrong information in the public and misleading them,” he added.
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