Remove structure around Hazratbal Shrine, housing relic of Prophet

Srinagar, Oct 30 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today directed the divisional authorities in the summer capital to remove all the structures around the Hazratbal Shrine so that seven lakh people could offer prayers at a time.

Dargah Hazratbal, housing the holy relic of Prophet Mohammad, being the most reverent and sacred religious place in Kashmir is required to be projected as one of the magnificent and grand site with expanded lawns right from the banks of Dal Lake to Naseem Bagh on one side and upto Kashmir University and Engineering College from the other side, Mr Azad said after visiting the shrine.

This will make it possible for at least 7 lakh people to offer prayer at a time conveniently, said the Chief Minister.

The Chief Minister instructed that process for removal of structures on the north and south sides should be initiated and earth filling and surfacing of lawns should be started. He observed that at two sides of the corners of Hazratbal lawns, clusters of structures have hampered not only view of Dargah Shrine but also caused hindrance when large number of people assembled to offer their prayers.

He advised Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, engineers and officers of the Waqaf Board that the alignment of lawns from University side on the front and Dal side on the back, Engineering College on one side and Naseem Bagh on other should be made in such a fashion so that Dargah remain in the centre as one of the magnificent and grand structures.

Mr Azad offered obeisance inside the shrine, while the Imam of Dargah prayed for the restoration of peace, tranquility and prosperity of the state.

The others who were present on the occasion include Mufti-Azam- Kashmir Mufti Bashir-ud-Din, Immame-Dargah Sharief Moulvi Bashir Farooqi and Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir.

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