Panun Kashmir Seeks LG’s Intervention Over Condition of Kheer Bhawani Shrine
16/10/2026
Jammu,October 16 (KIP)-Panun Kashmir has submitted a representation to the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, seeking urgent intervention for the restoration, maintenance and preservation of the revered Shri Mata Ragnya Devi Shrine at Kheer Bhawani, Tulmulla, in Ganderbal district.
The representation follows a visit to the shrine by a delegation comprising Shri Kuldeep Raina, General Secretary, Shri Behari Lal Kaul, Organising Secretary and Sh. Biboo Ji Zutshi Coordinator, Jammu of Panun Kashmir. The delegation documented concerns regarding the condition of the sacred spring, the upkeep of the shrine’s outer walls, exposed electrical wiring and the adequacy of sanitation and wastewater management facilities.
The organisation has urged the administration to initiate immediate corrective measures to safeguard the shrine’s religious sanctity, ensure the safety of devotees and protect the surrounding environment.
According to the representation, the water in the sacred spring appeared murky and stagnant, with visible algae across portions of its surface. Panun Kashmir has called for a scientific assessment to determine the underlying causes and prescribe appropriate remedial measures. It has emphasised that any cleaning or restoration must be undertaken by qualified experts in consultation with the traditional custodians and priests, with due regard for the spring’s religious sanctity and ecological characteristics.
The delegation also observed that the outer walls of the shrine complex appeared stained, discoloured and inadequately maintained. The organisation has sought a technical inspection followed by necessary cleaning, repairs and restoration.
Panun Kashmir has expressed particular concern over exposed electrical wires hanging above areas used by devotees for movement and congregation. It has urged the competent authorities to conduct an immediate electrical safety inspection and ensure that hazardous installations are repaired, properly insulated, secured or replaced, as technically necessary.
The representation also calls for a comprehensive technical assessment of the shrine’s sewage, drainage and wastewater management systems. Panun Kashmir has urged the administration to install a properly designed sewage treatment plant (STP), together with an appropriate wastewater collection and drainage network, wherever required, to prevent untreated sewage from contaminating the sacred spring, adjoining water bodies or the surrounding environment.
The organisation has further sought improvements in sanitation, solid-waste disposal, lighting, pathways, drainage and other essential facilities for pilgrims.
Panun Kashmir has requested the Lieutenant Governor to issue appropriate directions to the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir Division, the Deputy Commissioner, Ganderbal, and other concerned authorities to undertake an official inspection and prepare a time-bound action plan. It has also sought formal identification of the agency responsible for the shrine’s maintenance, clearly defined accountability and submission of an action-taken report within a specified timeframe.
The organisation has advocated a permanent inspection and maintenance mechanism incorporating periodic water-quality testing, preventive maintenance of electrical and sanitation infrastructure, and appropriate consultation with representatives of the Kashmiri Pandit community.
Emphasising the shrine’s religious and cultural significance, Panun Kashmir has stated that Kheer Bhawani remains an enduring spiritual link between the Kashmiri Pandit community and its ancestral homeland despite decades of displacement. It has urged the administration to ensure that the revered shrine is maintained in a condition befitting its religious importance, with due regard for heritage preservation, environmental protection and the safety of devotees.
The representation is accompanied by a report prepared by the visiting delegation and photographs documenting the conditions observed at the shrine.