Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir government said on Monday that it has approved two projects worth Rs 10.95 crore for the preservation and upgradation of important religious sites in Anantnag district.
Office of the J&K Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, said on X, “Government of Jammu & Kashmir has approved two projects worth Rs 10.95 crore for the preservation and upgradation of important religious sites in Anantnag. Rs 5.03 crore has been approved for the restoration and renovation of Ziyarat Sharief Khiram, while Rs 5.92 crore has been sanctioned for the repair and renovation of Shiv Mandir, Thajiwara, Bijbehara.”
“These projects will preserve the sanctity and heritage of both religious places while improving facilities for devotees,” the CMO said.
While Muslim religious sites need upgradation, it is the Hindu religious sites in the Valley whose preservation and upgradation have become a serious challenge for the authorities. The Hindu sites have been lying unattended for over 36 years after the forced exodus of the Kashmiri Pandit community due to terrorism.
The preservation of Hindu religious and cultural heritage in Kashmir involves temple restoration, legal protections against land encroachment, and community-led revival efforts.
Revival and preservation efforts include government-funded renovation projects, court-mandated safeguards for unattended sites, and the reopening of historic places of worship.
Monday’s decision by the Jammu and Kashmir government to provide Rs 5.92 crore for the repair and renovation of the Shiv Mandir at Thajiwara in Bijbehara is another step towards the objective of preservation of Hindu religious sites.
The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh ordered the administration to safeguard unattended Hindu temples and shrines from land grabbers and encroachments.
Local leadership has discussed introducing dedicated legislation to protect the properties and religious sites of the displaced community.
Dozens of long-closed sites, such as the 300-year-old Anandishar Temple in Srinagar and the Shiral Nath Temple, have resumed regular rituals and prayers.
For decades following the migration of Kashmiri Pandits in the 1990s, many local Muslim neighbours voluntarily acted as caretakers and cleaners to protect temple structures from decay.
Prominent symbols of heritage, including the newly reconstructed Sharda Temple in Kupwara, highlight ongoing efforts to reconnect with ancient traditions.
(IANS)
