Jammu : Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADM) Satish Sharma, on Thursday chaired a meeting to discuss and review the arrangements for the Diwali festival.
At the outset, the ADC said that there are 10 grounds in which permission regarding sale of fire crackers has been given for four days i.e from 21st to 24th of October’22. He also said that the timing of sale/purchase of crackers is from 10 am to 8 pm.
The ADC directed the concerned authorities to keep a strict vigil on sale and storage of fire crackers, besides ensuring that the shopkeepers adhere to the guidelines laid down in this regard.
He also directed the concerned officers of different departments to put in all possible efforts to make adequate arrangements for smooth celebration of Diwali festival by ensuring availability of essential commodities, adequate power and drinking water supply, Medicare, security, sanitation and other basic needs during the festival.
The ADC directed the concerned officers of the Fire and Emergency Department to deploy fire tenders at the venue of sale of firecrackers.
Traffic authorities were asked to prepare comprehensive traffic plans for smooth traffic movement and launch special drives near crackers’ sale stalls.
He also said that the stalls should not be made of wood/ply or plastic infact it should be established with Tim and also every stall must have fire extinguishers.
Municipal Authorities were directed to ensure cleanliness in and around the city during the festive season.
The ADC also directed the Health Department to keep ambulances ready, besides sufficient stock of life saving drugs in the health institutions to meet any exigency.
Officials from Security agencies were asked to ensure foolproof security arrangements in the district especially at the venues identified for the sale of firecrackers.
The Information department was asked to give wide-publicity to the guidelines regarding handling of crackers, safety measures and response in case of emergency through different communication mediums.
The officers from PDD were directed to ensure round the clock electricity during festival season and don’t allow loose connections at the places of firecracker sale.
Similarly, officers of CAPD were directed to keep a check on quality and rates of eatables besides conducting regular market inspections to check overcharging and profiteering.
He further directed the concerned to ensure that ban on the sale of poor quality crackers is strictly enforced.
ADC L&O Harvinder Singh, ACG RakeshDubey along with other senior officers of the concerned departments were present in the meeting.
