Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Sat Pal Sharma today directed District Administration Ganderbal to ensure that appropriate arrangements are put in place for the smooth conduct of Kheer Bhawani Mela inTullmulla, Ganderbal.The Minister was interacting with the officers at the meeting hall, Mini Secretariat complex, during his visit to the district to oversee the arrangements being put in place for smooth conduct of annual Kheer Bhawani Mela, being held on June 20th.The Minister was accompanied by Member Legislative Counsel G.L Raina, Financial Commissioner K.B Agarwal and General Secretary BJP, Dr Narinder Singh.Thousands of devotees from within and outside the State are expected to attend the festival. DDC Ganderbal Piyush Singla, SSP Fayaz Ahmad Lone, Chairman Dharmarth Trust, ACR and other District Officers were present on the occasion.During the meeting, the Minister discussed department-wise facilities being provided for the devotees.
He also reviewed the Security arrangements, availability of essentials, accommodation facilities, sanitation facility, traffic management, medical facilities besides availability of power and water supply.He said that no toll will be collected from the passengers carrying the pilgrims to the shrine during the days of festival.DDC Ganderbal, on the occasion, gave a brief to the Minister about the preparedness of the district administration for the Mela and was told that a foolproof mechanism was put in place to ensure that the devotees get the requisite necessary facilities for performing religious rituals.Later, the Minister paid obeisance at Kheer Bhawani Shrine and prayed for peace and well-being of people of State. He extended his greetings to the people, particularly Kashmiri Pandits, on the occasion of ‘JyeshthaAshtami’.