To finalize the arrangements for ensuing Diwali festival, a meeting was convened by Deputy Commissioner Kathua, Ramesh Kumar here today.Threadbare discussion was held on arrangements like installation of cracker stalls, security, maintenance of law and order, traffic regulation, drinking water and power supply, sanitation, medicare, checking of quality and price of eatables and deployment of fire tenders.The meeting also decided that a joint team of officers of F,CS and CA, Health , Municipality, Legal Metrology and Revenue department will be constituted to keep a strict vigil on the sale of fire crackers besides keeping a check on shopkeepers that whether they are following the guidelines laid down for the purpose. He further directed to ensure that crackers should be displayed at identified area i.e. at Ramleela ground Kathua after proper permission.
The team will also keep a check on quality and rates of eatables, sanitation, and encroachment in market places and other busy places in the town. He also directed the committee constituted to keep a check especially on the adulterated and synthetic milk products. He called for immediate seizure of adulterated sweets and other eatables. AD FCS&CA was directed to ensure proper ration supply during festival season along with mandatory display of rate list in the business premises.The shopkeepers were asked not to sell crackers at their establishment except the identified venue. The authorized fire cracker stall should be equipped with fire extinguisher besides other mandatory safety measures and only CFLs can be used for illumination.DC directed the PDD department to ensure uninterrupted power supply during festival. He also directed the PHE department to ensure the provision for uninterrupted water supply during the festival. He also passed instructions to PHE to keep the water tankers ready in case of water scarcity in any area.He also passed instructions to the traffic department to ensure smooth flow of traffic during the festival.
He directed CMO Kathua to keep the ambulance stationed at Mahatma Gandhi Hospital and sufficient stock of life saving drugs at every Hospital and PHC.EO Municipality was directed to maintain cleanliness besides taking measures to avoid any congestion due to fruit and other vendors in the town markets.Among others Addl. Deputy Commissioner Kathua Bharat Bhushan, SP Khalil Poswal, ACR Jatinder Mishra , ACD Sunil Sharma, CMO, AD FCS&CA, CEO Kathua Muncipality and other senior officers of different Department were present in the meeting.Later, DC visited various high risk areas adjoining Kathua industrial estate and reviewed preventative measures being taken up against dengue which has emerged as a major health problem in the area.To create more awareness on the disease, the CMO was directed to identify vulnerable sites where awareness would be created through medical task force and flex showing diagnosis and management of Dengue through Do`s and Dont`s.He also directed CEO Kathua Municipality to conduct fogging every alternate day to control the mosquito breeding.Besides, the concerned officers are directed to create awareness among the school children about the causes and preventive measures of Dengue.