Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 24: District administration Jammu is all set to make elaborate arrangements for festival of lights Diwali and Jhiri Mela organised every year to commemorate sacrifice of farmer saint Baba Jitoo.
In this regard, Deputy Commissioner Ramesh Kumar chaired a meeting and reviewed the arrangements being made by the government departments for the convenience of people and the devotees.
The DC listed the provisions made for the twin festivals and directed the concerned departments to put in all possible efforts for smooth celebration of Diwali festival by ensuring availability of essential commodities, power and drinking water supply, medicare, security, sanitation and other basic needs.
The DC constituted a committee under the chairmanship of ADC to identify the sites for sale of fire crackers in Jammu and to ensure strict enforcement of rules and to constitute special flying squads of civil and police administration to check violations.
He directed the JMC and SDMs concerned to keep a strict vigil on sale and storage of fire crackers, ensure that the sales , whole or retail are carried by permitted vendors, shopkeepers and at the selected venues as also ensure strict adherence to the guidelines and Supreme Court directions laid down in this regard.
The DDC directed the concerned officers of Fire and Emergency Department to ensure availability of fire tenders at the venue of sale of fire crackers. He also passed directions that a duty roaster of 24 hrs be maintained by the Fire and Emergency Department with contact numbers of drivers to be shared with the Tehsildars and S.H.Os concerned. He also directed the concerned departments to allow whole sale of fire crackers only on such locations which are easily accessible by the fire tenders.
The DC also directed Health Department to keep ambulances ready besides sufficient stock of life saving drugs and proper arrangements for fire cracker injuries at all the different health institutions including round the clock availability of health services. He also directed the CMO to constitute teams at the Block levels including volunteers from the civil defence to provide adequate health services.
Later, reviewing the Jhiri Mela arrangements, the DDC asked the administration to ensure adequate facilities for devotees visiting from different parts of the country for the annual Mela.
The DDC discussed department-wise facilities to be provided to the devotees and particularly reviewed the position with regard to power, water supply, sanitation, traffic management, security arrangements, availability of essentials and medical facilities.
He directed the PWD to complete the tender process of all the roads leading to the holy shrine on war footings.
The DDC directed the traffic authorities for identifying alternate roads for entry of heavy vehicles and to ensure proper traffic management during the Mela period.
The DDC directed the Irrigation and Flood Control Department to carry proper desilting of the holy pond and to maintain sufficient supply of water to cater to the demand of lakhs of devotees that thronged the holy shrine.
DDC directed all the concerned departments to set up stalls at the Mela for the display of general public regarding their schemes and innovative items.
The DDC asked the officers to maintain close coordination between the Management Committee and different agencies associated with the Mela to ensure successful conduct of this annual event.
Among others, the meeting was also attended by ADC Jammu Rishpal Singh, SP Rural Jammu Dushyant Sharma, CMO Jammu Sanjay Turki, SDMs, BDOs and other senior officers.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
