Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 3: Baba Bhair Devsathan Trust (BBDT) has expressed concern over damage caused to the Baba Bhair Dev shrine infrastructure in last year’s floods and sought urgent intervention from the administration for restoration of facilities before the upcoming Kartik Purnima mela.
At a meeting held at Dogra Brahman Pratinidhi Sabha, Chanakya Chowk, Jammu, Chairman of the Baba Bhair Devsthan Construction Committee and former DC, BS Jamwal, NMC President, Subash Shastri, Committee General Secretary, Ritiz Khajuria, and other committee members said the steel footbridge over Tawi River at Katal Batal in Nagrota area washed away during the floods, badly affecting connectivity to the shrine. They said several structures developed by the trust were also damaged.
The Committee members criticized the delay in restoration work and appealed to the Lieutenant Governor and Chief Minister to immediately sanction construction of a suitable bridge and approach road to the shrine.
They said smooth access for devotees was necessary in view of the three-day Baba Bhair Dev Kartik Purnima mela.
Trust President Balwant Singh, General Secretary Ramesh Sharma, and Advisor Advocate PC Sharma further said that a DPR for construction of a road from village Aithem to the shrine had already been prepared and submitted, but no action had been taken so far.
Pilgrims also raised concern over lack of temporary arrangements for crossing the river.
They alleged that some unauthorized private boats were operating without safety measures and one boat was dropping devotees near the shrine premises in a manner hurting religious sentiments. They demanded immediate action against such activities.
The trust urged the UT Administration, local MP, MLA Jammu East Yudhvir Sethi and MLA Nagrota Devyani Rana to intervene and ensure restoration of facilities for pilgrims at the earliest.
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