Kathua: Deputy Commissioner Kathua, Dr RakeshMinhas, chaired a meeting on Saturday to deliberate and strategise arrangements for seamless celebration of the festivals of Navratra and Eid-ul-Fitr across the district.
At the outset, the DC Kathua who is also District Election Officer impressed upon Tehsildars concerned to ensure that no religious sites shall be used for election campaigning by any contesting candidate or by any political party while MCC is in force.
Different aspects of arrangements were discussed comprehensively, including security measures, provision of safe drinking water, uninterrupted power supply, medical aid services, sanitation, availability of fire safety measures, street lighting, cleanliness, and transport management across the district.
Heads of different departments were given directives to ensure meticulous planning and execution in their respective areas of responsibility, with a particular focus on cleanliness and security to mitigate any potential untoward incidents during the festive period.
The Jal Shakti department was entrusted with ensuring a consistent supply of potable water, while the Power Development Department (PDD) was directed to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply throughout the festival duration.
Emphasizing the importance of maintaining cleanliness, the CEO Municipal Council Kathua was instructed to take necessary actions, especially in and around major Shrines and prayer grounds where large congregations are expected. Civil society’s cooperation was encouraged to uphold cleanliness standards in the town.
To prevent profiteering and black marketing, the Food Safety department was directed to conduct market checks across all markets of the district to ensure essential commodities are sold at government-approved rates and meet quality standards.
The Traffic Department received instructions to deploy an adequate number of personnel in areas prone to traffic congestion, ensuring smooth traffic flow during the festivities.
The Regional Transport Officer (RTO) Kathua was directed to ensure the availability of adequate transportation facilities on all major roads of the district. Special transport services shall be arranged on important days such as Navratra and Eid-ul-Fitr.
Regarding arrangements at religious sites, the DC instructed all departments and heads of Mandir committees to ensure adequate facilities are in place in and around temples.
During the meeting, representatives of religious institutions apprised Deputy Commissioner about various issues, in response to which the DC directed concerned officers to resolve the same on priority.
The meeting was attended by ADDC KathuaSurinder Mohan, ADC KathuaRanjit Singh, DC State Taxes Pardeep Singh Manhas, Executive Engineers, and other concerned stakeholders.
