Baramulla’s Khanpora residents aghast at lack of arrangements for Eid-e-Milad

Baramulla, Sep 27: As the revered Eid Milad-un-Nabi (SAW) approaches, the residents of the Khanpora area in Baramulla have voiced their concerns over the lack of proper arrangements by the Waqf board and district administration for the occasion, especially considering the area’s significance as the location of the famous Sufi shrine Syed Janbazwali (RA).
The residents have expressed their dismay, noting that for the first time, the district administration has not convened a review meeting ahead of this significant religious observance.
Malik Shabir, General Secretary of Auqaf, while highlighting the pressing issues said, “People from distant places will visit the shrine on Eid-e-Milad, but we don’t have any water facility here, and the drainage system is defunct. There are no proper arrangements and it happened for the first time that no proper arrangements have been made.”
The locals expressed their disappointment with the Waqf Board, saying that they expected better preparations for the revered day. “The shrine is hundreds of years old, but till date, no construction or renovation has been done by the Waqf Board,” they said.
Malik Shabir said the shrine came under the jurisdiction of the Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board in 2003, but according to locals, no significant renovation or construction has taken place since then.
“The Waqf Board has started painting the cracked areas of the shrine, but it is all in vain. They should either allow us to construct and renovate the shrine or take the responsibility themselves,” he added.
Ghulam Mohammad from Khanpora recalled witnessing the shrine without a washroom facility as a child. He said that in 2023, there is still no washroom facility available.
Ayesha Begum, 54, from Sheeri Baramulla, expressed her disappointment as well, saying she had a wish to visit the holy shrine, but there were no proper arrangements in place.
“No washrooms are there at the holy shrine. Our chairperson of the Waqf Board is a woman; at least she should consider this. Where shall the women folk go to utilize the washroom?” she questioned.
As the 605th Urs of Syed Janbazwali (RA) approaches, the residents are concerned about the lack of washroom facilities during the Urs.
They alleged that consecutive governments and administrations have ignored the area, and they urged the Chairperson of the Waqf Board, the LG administration, and the Deputy Commissioner of Baramulla to address the issue promptly.
The residents also appealed to the district administration for security guards to safeguard the shrine.
Meanwhile, the Executive Engineer of Jal Shakti Baramulla, Aijaz Ahmad, said that work on the filtration plant in the area is going on.
He stated that for the time being, water tankers would be deployed, and all necessary measures would be taken to cater to the needs of people visiting the shrine.