New Delhi, August 3: The Jammu and Kashmir government has approved ₹10.95 crore for the preservation and enhancement of essential religious sites in Anantnag, as announced by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on the social media platform X. The funding includes ₹5.03 crore for the restoration and renovation of the Ziyarat Sharif Khiram and ₹5.92 crore for the repair and renovation of the Shiva Temple in Thajivada, Bijbehara.
The Chief Minister’s Office stated, “These projects will preserve the sanctity and heritage of both religious sites while improving facilities for devotees.”
While there is a pressing need to upgrade Muslim religious sites, the preservation and enhancement of Hindu religious sites in the valley have become a significant challenge for authorities. For over 36 years, Hindu places of worship have remained neglected due to the forced exodus of the Kashmiri Pandit community caused by terrorism.
Efforts to safeguard the Hindu religious and cultural heritage in Kashmir include the restoration of temples, legal protections against land encroachments, and community-led revival initiatives. These revitalization efforts involve government-funded renovation projects, security measures mandated by court orders for neglected sites, and the reopening of historic places of worship.
The Jammu and Kashmir government’s decision to allocate ₹5.92 crore for the repair and renovation of the Shiva Temple in Thajivada is another step toward preserving Hindu religious sites. The Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court has directed the administration to protect Hindu temples and religious sites from land grabbers and encroachments that have been overlooked.
Local leadership has discussed introducing specific laws to protect the properties and religious sites of displaced communities. Regular worship and prayers have resumed at numerous long-closed sites, such as the 300-year-old Anandishar Temple and the Shiral Nath Temple in Srinagar.
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