Rs 3 lakh sanctioned for project; residents seek land demarcation to protect shrine
Baramulla| Oct, 14: Restoration work on a centuries-old Shivling at Kalibagh in Baramulla has begun following the sanctioning of around Rs 3 lakh for the project, after sustained efforts by local residents and community members to preserve the religious site.
The Shivling is believed to be around 400–500 years old, according to Pandit Shivanand Rohit Ji, who said the shrine had remained neglected for years despite repeated appeals to the authorities.
Talking to reporters, Pandit Shivanand said efforts to revive the site had been underway for more than a year, with residents submitting representations to the Lieutenant Governor and repeatedly raising the issue with the district administration.
He appreciated Deputy Commissioner Baramulla S. F. Hamid for personally visiting the site on Tuesday despite the difficult approach through thorny bushes and uneven ground.
“The DC Sahab assessed the condition of the ancient Shivling and issued on-the-spot directions for its revival, restoration and preservation. His personal intervention has helped move the process forward,” he said.
Pandit Shivanand said the Bhoomi Pujan for the proposed construction was performed on Wednesday in accordance with religious rituals, and work had commenced at the site.
He said the Deputy Commissioner’s visit to the difficult-to-access location reflected the importance of preserving the region’s historical, cultural and spiritual heritage.
Stressing the need for sustained efforts to protect the shrine, Pandit Shivanand said the time had come to ensure that the historic site was properly preserved and maintained.
“Preserving such places is essential to safeguarding our cultural and religious heritage. The shrine’s historical significance and cultural legacy must be protected and passed on to future generations,” he said.
Local residents and members of the community have expressed concern over the shrine’s condition and called for concrete steps to ensure its long-term preservation. The local committee, which has been pursuing the matter, has maintained that sustained administrative attention is necessary to protect the site from further neglect.
Reema Raina Koul, a resident who frequently visits her ancestral village in Palhallan, told Kashmir Horizon that the temple had remained neglected for years and required urgent intervention from the authorities.
She called for the official demarcation of the land to protect the shrine from possible disputes or encroachment and urged the administration to facilitate its reconstruction to preserve the community’s religious and cultural heritage.
Residents said the restoration was important not only to safeguard the structure but also to preserve the area’s historical and cultural legacy. They expressed hope that the sanctioned funds would help revive the site and that the administration would ensure its continued maintenance.
They also stressed that formal land demarcation and regular administrative oversight would be essential to prevent future disputes, encroachment and neglect, ensuring that the shrine remains protected for generations to come.
