In view of the forthcoming Eid-ul-Azha celebrations, a meeting of all Sectoral/Zonal Officers was today held under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner (DC) Srinagar, Akshay Labroo at Meeting Hall of DC Office Complex, here to review the preparations made by different Departments for seamless conduct of the auspicious religious festival.
The meeting was attended by Additional District Development Commissioner Rifat Aftab Qureshi, Additional Deputy Commissioner Aadil Fareed, Superintendent of Police Umar Shah, Joint Commissioner SMC Nuzhat Khurshid, Chief Planning Officer Fayaz Ahmad Dar, Superintending Engineer R&B Shabir Ahmad, SDM West Irfan Bahadur, SDM East Zubair Ahmad, besides senior Officers from Revenue, Food Safety, PDD, R&B, SMC, PHE, Health Services, FCS&CA, Animal & Sheep Husbandry, Fire & Emergency Services and other Officers.
At the outset, the Deputy Commissioner undertook a detailed review of the arrangements being made by line departments at major shrines and other prominent places across Srinagar where large congregations of devotees are expected to offer Eid prayers.
Stressing the importance of coordinated efforts among departments, the DC directed all concerned officers to ensure that requisite facilities and basic amenities are put in place well in advance to facilitate smooth conduct of religious gatherings and provide maximum convenience to the devotees.
While reviewing the availability of sacrificial animals and poultry birds, the DC directed the officers of the Animal and Sheep Husbandry Departments to ensure adequate supply of animals and poultry in markets across the District so that the demand during Eid-ul-Azha is met without inconvenience to the public.
With regard to ensuring proper and scientific disposal of hides and fleeces during the festive period, the DC directed the Srinagar Municipal Corporation to establish designated collection centres in every Municipal Ward and widely publicize their locations for public convenience.
He further instructed the concerned authorities to ensure adequate deployment of vehicles and manpower for timely collection and proper disposal so as to maintain sanitation, cleanliness and environmental hygiene across the City during Eid-ul-Azha celebrations.
The DC further instructed the SMC to undertake intensified cleanliness and sanitation drives across the City and ensure that all streetlights are made fully functional well before the festival. He emphasized that special attention should be paid to cleanliness in and around major shrines, mosques and congregation venues.
To ensure availability of quality food items in the market and to prevent incidents of overcharging, profiteering and black marketing during the festive period, the DC ordered constitution of special joint market checking teams comprising officers from Police, Food Safety, Legal Metrology, Sheep Husbandry and Revenue Departments.
These teams have been tasked with conducting regular inspections across markets and business establishments to strictly monitor quality standards, rates and market practices in order to prevent profiteering and black marketing by business establishments operating in the District.
The DC also directed Officers of PHE and KPDCL to ensure uninterrupted supply of drinking water and electricity to consumers, particularly at major shrines, mosques and religious places on the eve of Eid-ul-Azha. Reviewing healthcare arrangements, the Health Department was instructed to ensure adequate deployment of medical staff and ambulances at major religious locations including Dargah Hazratbal, Syed Yaqoob Sahib Shrine and Jenab Sahib Soura besides other important shrines across the District.
Similarly, R&B and SMC Engineers were directed to undertake immediate repair of roads and filling up of potholes, especially on roads leading to major religious places, to facilitate smooth movement of devotees and vehicles during Eid celebrations.
For effective traffic regulation and hassle-free movement of people, the DC directed the Traffic Police Srinagar to formulate a comprehensive traffic management plan well in advance. He also instructed the Regional Transport Office to ensure adequate availability of public transport, particularly buses, for ferrying devotees to major shrines and mosques on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha.
The DC further directed Block Development Officers to mobilize field-level functionaries in rural areas to ensure better arrangements and public convenience during the festive days. Additionally, Fire & Emergency Services and SDRF personnel were instructed to remain deployed at major congregation points to ensure public safety, emergency preparedness and effective crowd management throughout the Eid celebrations.
The Deputy Commissioner emphasized the need for close inter-departmental coordination and directed all departments to work in a proactive and mission-mode approach to ensure that people celebrate the auspicious occasion of Eid-ul-Azha in a peaceful, smooth and hassle-free manner.