SRINAGAR, Aug 26: Many people in Kashmir have accused government of delaying the reconstruction work on the Dastgeer Sahib Shrine which was gutted in a fire incident in June this year, a charge which the authorities deny.
“At ground zero, not an inch has moved since shrine was gutted three months back, government is callous and indifferent to people’s sentiments,” said Bashir Ahmad Naqash, a resident of Khanyar.
Like Naqash majority of the people living near Dastgeer Sahib are angry with the authorities over what they described as “unnecessary delay” in the reconstruction.
“This government has failed to respect sentiments of the people of Kashmir, I suggest people are on their own to take an initiate and start reconstruction of the shrine themselves,” Mohammed Shafi Geelani.
But authorities say they have directed the concerned officers to speed up the reconstruction work on the Shrine at Khanyar. After sensing growing anger, Minister for Rural Development Ali Mohammad Sagar, who represents Khanyar constituency in the state assembly, issued directions to the officers for a speedy reconstruction of the shrine during a visit on Saturday.
Sagar said the shrine would be completed within the shortest possible time and in consonance with the original architecture of the gutted structure.The minister asked the Wakf Board officials to ensure that the work on the shrine be started immediately.
He said it is a priority of the government that work on the shrine be completed within the stipulated time frame as per the commitment made to the people.
The Minister also asked the officers to work in close coordination with the INTACH so that bottle necks if any can be removed and work expedited on a fast track basis.
Peer Dastgeer Sahib shrine, a 250-year-old wooden landmark dedicated to 11th-century Sufi saint Sheikh Abdul Qadir Geelani, was reduced to ashes in a fire on June 26.
“I hope sanity will prevail on the government and they reconstruct the shrine as soon as possible,” Sheikh Dawwod said.
