Srinagar, Sep 14: The over 200-year-old shrine of Peer Dastgeer Sahab (RA) in Khanyar area of Srinagar, which was gutted in a devastating fire here in June will be restored within two years to its original structural characteristic and work will start Saturday.
The Holy Relic of the Dastgeer Sahab (RA) shrine was safely retrieved from the fire-proof vault inside the shrine. The blaze, however, destroyed antique chandeliers and invaluable wood carving panels of the shrine besides the entire old wooden structure that housed the mausoleum.
The reverence for Dastgeer Sahab (RA) cuts across religious lines across Kashmir with both the local Muslims and Pandits holding the saint in high esteem.
The contract for the restoration work has been assigned to JKPCC. Waqf Board and Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) would be the supervising agencies. Restoration of the shrine would cost Rs 6 crore.
Convener INTACH, Muhammad Beg told Greater Kashmir that their proposal for restoration of shrine has been cleared and accepted by a committee of experts. The experts who were in committee, Beg said included Chief Engineer R&B, Managing Director JKPCC, Waqf Board and other officials.
“Modern technologies like ‘Guintoring’ will be used in its restoration and it will strengthen the structure,” Beg said adding that this technique is being used for the first time in Jammu and Kashmir.
One of the key features of the plan includes shifting of the road by about 60 feet away from the shrine. “This will bring breathing space to the monument. It will also serve the purpose for pilgrims offering Nimaz and unhindered Ziyarat during Urses,” he said.
INTACH Convener said that this shrine was repository of the finest crafts of Kashmir like wood-carving, Khatambund and Papier-mâché.
The road would be diverted and around 27 residential houses are being removed in the vicinity of the shrine. “They (owners of the residential houses) have been given money and notices have been issued to them,” he said.
“We have been assured by the masters of the craft from downtown Srinagar that all these craft-elements shall be recreated by them at the shrine,” Beg said.
The digital photographs, images, maps of every inch of the Dastgeer Sahib shrine and various other holy ‘Dargahs’ of the state have been documented by the government through INTACH.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 14 Sep 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 14 Sep 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 15 Sep 2012 00:00:00 IST