KD NEWS SERVICE
SRINAGAR, July 15: The Centre for Environmental Law (CEL) has strongly condemned the reported insanitary conditions and alleged environmental violations at the historic Baba Reshi Shrine in Baramulla district, urging immediate intervention by the Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board and the district administration to safeguard the shrine’s fragile ecological surroundings.
In a press statement issued on Wednesday, CEL described the shrine precincts as not only a revered place of worship but also an ecologically sensitive area surrounded by lush green forests, rich biodiversity and diverse wildlife and bird species. It cautioned that any environmental degradation in such a pristine landscape could have far-reaching consequences for both nature and public health.
Expressing serious concern over the reported conditions, the organisation said the allegations, if found to be true, indicate a blatant disregard for environmental laws as well as judicial directions governing waste management and environmental protection. CEL maintained that a sacred religious site should never become a source of pollution or pose a risk to the health of devotees and visitors.
Drawing parallels with the recent devastation witnessed in Pahalgam, the organisation said the environmental catastrophe served as a stark reminder of the consequences of unchecked human interference with nature. It attributed such disasters to haphazard construction, poor solid waste management, concretisation of forest areas and the unchecked proliferation of single-use plastics in ecologically sensitive zones.
The Centre for Environmental Law asserted that any verified violations at Baba Reshi Shrine would amount to contravention of the directions of the Hon’ble High Court, the Jammu and Kashmir Non-Biodegradable Material (Management and Handling) Act, 2007, the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026, and the Plastic Waste Management Rules.
Seeking immediate remedial measures, CEL has urged the Chairperson of the Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board to initiate appropriate action against the Administrator of Baba Reshi Shrine. Simultaneously, it has requested the District Magistrate, Baramulla, to constitute an independent inquiry to investigate the alleged environmental violations and examine the utilisation of funds earmarked for sanitation and waste management at the shrine.
The organisation stressed that accountability must be fixed wherever lapses are established and called for strict enforcement of environmental laws to prevent further degradation of the shrine’s surroundings.
Advocate Nadeem Qadri, Chief Executive Director of the Centre for Environmental Law, said protecting ecologically sensitive religious sites is essential for preserving both the environment and the sanctity of places of worship. He emphasised that timely action by the authorities would help prevent environmental damage and reinforce public confidence in the implementation of environmental safeguards.
