Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti today reviewed the arrangements for the coming days of Muharram put in place by the State administration.
The Chief Minister directed availability of regulated power and drinking water supply besides availability of adequate quantity of foodgrains and fuel during Muharram days.
Muharram, which also marks the beginning of a new Islamic calendar, would be commencing by the end of this week.
Deputy Chief Minister, Dr. Nirmal Singh; Chairman, Legislative Council, Haji Anayat Ali; Minister for Food, Civil Supplies & Information, Choudhary Zulfkar Ali; Minister of PWD, Naeem Akhtar; Minister of State for Hajj & Auqaf, Syed Farooq Andrabi; Minister of State for Health & Medical Education, Asiea Naqash; legislators, Syed Abid Ansari and Asgar Karbalai were present in the meeting.
The Chief Minister directed immediate repairing of street lights, ensuring of uninterrupted power supply to Imambaras and devising proper traffic management and diversion plans on the routes of religious processions. She directed improvement and macadamisation of roads in Shia inhabited areas particularly leading to Imambaras on immediate priority.
The Chief Minister also directed enhancement in the funds being released to respective Deputy Commissioners for the purpose.
Mehbooba Mufti also directed putting in place adequate arrangements for the Muharram observances in Ladakh and Jammu regions particularly Kargil, Jammu, Poonch, Ramban and other places.
The Chief Minister was informed that 193 ambulances, 1563 paramedics and 212 doctors have been detailed for duty by the Health Department near various Imambaras and Shia dominated areas during these days. Also, the meeting was informed, adequate transport diversion plans have been devised by the Traffic Police for ensuring hassle free movement on the routes of Azadari processions. Adequate number of buses has been detailed on the routes toImambaras and places of congregation during late hours to ferry the faithful, the meeting was informed.
Regarding the power supply, the Chief Minister was informed that a buffer stock of 470 transformers has been created for meeting the requirement during the days. Also electrification of interior lanes and bye lanes has also been done by the PDD. Besides, in Srinagar city 800 street lights have been repaired or replaced, the meeting was informed. Also sanitation drives have been launched in Shia dominated areas and in close vicinity of Imambaras, the meeting was informed.
The meeting was informed that adequate stock of LPG, Kerosene oil and foodgrains is available for distribution. Additionally, the Food Supplies Department would be releasing additional quota of 2000 quintals of rice to Shia dominated areas for community utilisation. Also market checking by the concerned Department is being carried out during these days, the meeting was informed.
Regarding water supply, the meeting was informed that regular supply is being provided to 81 locations during these days besides availability of 21 tankers. Also more water PSPs would be installed this year, the meeting was informed. Also 142 works of urgent nature in Shia dominated areas are being undertaken by the R&B Department besides macadamization of many roads leading to Imambaras and Shia areas, the meeting was informed.
Besides, the meeting was also attended by Chief Secretary, B. B. Vyas; Director General of Police, Dr Sheesh Pal Vaid; Administrative secretaries of several Departments, Inspector General, Kashmir zone, Munir Ahmad Khan; Inspector General of Police, Traffic, Jagjit Kumar; heads of various Departments; officers of Srinagar district administration and other officers.