The Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Dr. Farooq Ahmad Lone today chaired a meeting convened to review the arrangements for upcoming festival of Maha Shivratri which was attended by concerned officials of Fisheries, CA&PD, PDD, PHE, SMC, JKSRTC, Traffic, Police, RTO, Health, Revenue, Fire Service and Horticulture departments.The festival celebrated annually in reverence of Hindu deity Shiva will be held across the state this year on March 7.During the meeting the Deputy Commissioner directed PDD and PHE to ensure uninterrupted power and water supply during the festival days at Indra Nagar, Shivpora, Jawahar Nagar, Karan Nagar and other localities of the district where Pandit community is residing. He directed the Fisheries department to keep trout fish available in abundant quantity and asked them to deploy mobile vans containing fish from March 5 in localities where the minority community resides.Dr Lone asked CA&PD and Horticulture departments to ensure that fresh vegetables particularly Nadru (Nelumbo) and Walnuts are available in the markets in good quantity during the festival days.
The Deputy Commissioner was told that Traffic police will deploy additional men for smooth regulation of traffic around the main function venue and SMC will keep 10 additional sweepers available from March 4 to March 10 at the Shankrachariya site for effective sanitation.Officials from Health department informed the meeting that two ambulances with first aid kits will be deployed at the Shankracharya foothills and another near Nehru Park on the banks of Dal Lake. The JKSRTC officials told that department has kept two pickup points at TRC and Sheikhpora Budgam and buses as per demand available to facilitate travel of pilgrims on the occasion of the festival.During the meeting DC told the officials to work in coordination so that the festival is celebrated in the district smoothly.
Meanwhile the Shivratri arrangements put in place in the Anantnag district were reviewed at an officers meeting today.The ACR took a detailed review of the all the arrangements including provision of ration, traffic management, power and water supply and healthcare facilities besides sanitation.He exhorted upon the officers of CAPD to ensure adequate supply of ration and essentials are provided to the consumers especially in the migrant camps of the district before the commencement of the festival.The ACR also directed authorities of PDD and PHE to ensure uninterrupted power and water supply during festival days.The meeting was attended by Exens of PHE and PDD, Executive Officer of MC Anantnag, besides district officers of Fisheries and cooperative departments.