Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 6: The All J&K Shia Association today alleged administrative neglect and inadequate preparedness ahead of Muharram, citing delayed planning, poor civic infrastructure and lack of basic facilities for the Shia community
Addressing a press conference here, the association’s General Secretary, Abid Hussain Ansari, said Muharram and Safar together span nearly two months, yet preparations begin late every year, leaving little time for execution of works.
He said the absence of a dedicated Muharram budget forces local communities to manage arrangements on their own.
Even after approvals are granted, he said, lengthy tendering procedures delay implementation, rendering many projects ineffective by the time Muharram begins.
Ansari said requests for additional ration supplies during Shab arrangements are routinely denied due to limited quotas and lack of funds.
He added that there is no provision for essential commodities such as sugar, flour and kerosene oil despite thousands of people being served during Muharram gatherings.
Highlighting infrastructure concerns, he claimed that nearly 10,000 to 15,000 street lights across several areas remain defunct following recabling works.
Assurances regarding installation of junctions given last year, he said, have not been fulfilled, and demanded immediate restoration of lighting before Muharram.
He also expressed concern over the condition of roads, particularly the Ashura route in Ahmedpora, saying the community was not seeking new projects but only repair and patchwork to make existing roads usable.
On healthcare preparedness, Ansari termed the available arrangements inadequate and said medical resources are exhausted quickly, forcing reliance on NGOs.
He demanded deployment of AED machines, small ambulances for narrow lanes, and sufficient medical staff during Muharram, alleging that overlap with the Amarnath Yatra results in diversion of healthcare personnel.
The association also accused authorities of ignoring Shia religious sites in public infrastructure planning.
Ansari said directional signboards installed across Srinagar do not indicate routes to major Imambargahs, including Imambara Zadibal, which he described as reflective of “systemic neglect.”
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