Minister of State for Housing, Urban Development, Social Welfare, Health & Medical Education, Asiya Naqash Sunday chaired an officers meeting to review arrangements for upcoming auspicious festival of Meraj-ul-Aalam at Hazratbal.The meeting was attended by the Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Commissioner SMC, Chief Engineers of PDD, R&B and PHE, Director Health Services, DIG police, Central Kashmir, SSP, RTO besides officers of Fire & Emergency, SRTC, CA&PD and members of Muslim Wakaf Board.During the meetings the concerned officials gave a detailed briefing to the Minister about arrangements like water and uninterrupted power supply, proper parking space, adequate supply of ration at all ration depots besides availability of kerosene and LPG Cylinders so that consumers don’t face any scarcity during the auspicious days, transport availability, cleanliness in and around the Hazratbal shrine and medicare facilities.
She also stressed for ensuring availability of adequate transport to facilitate the devotees paying obeisance at other prominent Khankahas/Shrines during the holy days especially for night prayers.The Minister was apprised by the Commissioner SMC that sanitation and cleanliness drive has already been started in and around the Dargah Hazratbal and measures are being taken to restore dysfunctional street lights besides 100 new lights have been procured which would be installed at various places for the public convenience.The PHE authorities informed the meeting that adequate supply of drinking water shall be ensured during holy days for which 90 additional drinking water posts are being installed in addition to existing 220 posts, besides engineering team and 2 water tankers will camp near Shrine.The R&B chief Engineer assured the Minister that all repairs of all important roads leading to different shrines would be ensured well before commencement of the holy festival.The Minister was apprised by CA&PD officers that sufficient stocks of ration, K.oil have been kept available at ration stores for the consumers. He informed that sale of ration for the month of April has been extended upto May 05, 2016. Meanwhile the Minister accompanied by officers visited Hazratbal market and gave directions to ensure adequate space for prayers outside the shrine premises and remove all encroachments from footpaths.The SDM Srinagar, Syed Mohammad Hanief Balkhi has been pointed Nodal officer to all Ziyarats and people can contact him regarding arrangements