Baramulla, Feb 21: The government’s failure to expand the premises of Dargah-e-A’alia at Old Town Baramulla is drawing flak from the people.
 According to the locals, several years ago, the district administration mooted a plan to extend the periphery of the Shrine by dismantling the adjoining houses and shifting the people to other places. “However, the administration hasn’t done anything so far in this direction and the proposals is till lying on papers,” the residents of the area told Greater Kashmir, adding the proposal was mooted in Peoples Democratic Party led regime. They said the devotees, who throng to the Shrine in thousands during the Urs, were facing immense hardships due to lack of space around the Dargah-e-A’alia, adding the people cramp for space due to which they feel suffocated.
 Situated at the Mohalla Khawaja Sahib, Old Town Baramulla, the Dargah-e-A’alia contains the Holy relic of Prophet Muhammad (SAW).
 “The Shrine is located in the congested area and the proposed extension was an important decision keeping in view the paucity of space,” said a devotee, Abdul Rashid.
 He said that despite repeated pleas and various representations from the people, the authorities failed to expand the Shrine premises. “The expansion of the Shrine is need of the hour and the present National Conference led government should implement the proposal forthwith,” he said, adding the expansion would bring a much needed relief to the devotees.
 The Holy relic of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) in Dargah-e-A’alia was obtained by a local Khawaja Aziz-ud-Din Kakroo alias Aze Bab from Lal-Ud-Din, who was minister in the regime of Maharaja Pratap Singh, after paying an amount of Rs one lakh, some 130-years back.
 Apart from Dargah-e-A’alia, the district administration had also decided to bring some other important Shrines which have a great historical significance, like Hazrat Janbaz Wali (RA) shrine and the Jamia Masjid under the heritage sites so that their development will promote pilgrimage tourism, but the move has yet to be initiated. “The government should take necessary measures to put them on the pilgrimage tourism map,” the residents added.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 21 Feb 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 21 Feb 2012 18:30:00 GMT
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