Speaker reviews security, other arrangements for Budget Session

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 27:  Speaker Legislative Assembly, Kavinder Gupta  today reviewed security and other arrangements for   forthcoming Budget Session at a high-level meeting of civil and police officers.
IG, Security, Alok Kumar briefed the meeting about the security plan including deployment of police and other security forces   within and outside the Assembly Complex, MLA Hostel and other places.
It was informed that heavy deployment of   security staff on the analogy of Parliamentary traditions would be made within the premises of Legislative Complex, around and inside MLA hostel to keep close eye on suspicious movement and keep strangers away from entering the House and the lobby. The Speaker stressed on the need for identifying sufficient parking space for vehicles of the Assembly Secretariat and others.
The Speaker asked the Traffic Department to ensure proper regulation of traffic on roads leading to Legislative Complex and MLA Hostel during the entire Budget Session. The Fire & Emergency Services Department was asked to deploy firefighting tenders and check the fire extinguishers and fire hydrants installed in the Assembly Complex and MLA Hostel well before the commencement of the session.
For proper power supply, the Speaker directed the Power Development Department to start exercise in advance to check loopholes, if any in the transmission and distribution lines for uninterrupted power supply during the course of session. The PHE Department was asked to provide sufficient and regular supply of water to the Legislative Complex and MLA Hostel Jammu.
The Speaker asked the Health Department to make available adequate medical facilities both Allopathic and ISM with sufficient stocks of life saving drugs, oxygen cylinders and ambulances alongwith a team of Physicians and Surgeon Specialists within the Assembly Complex and MLA Hostel.
Reviewing other arrangements, the Speaker asked the Estates and JKPCC to speed up repair, renovation and other related works as also remove hurdles   wherever found necessary to ensure free movement within the Assembly Complex particularly in the Central Hall, House and Chief Minister and Ministers’ Chambers.
Director Information and Public Relations, Muneer-ul-Islam informed the Speaker that all arrangements have been put in place for the coverage of proceedings of both the Houses and facilities to be provided to the print and electronic media.
The meeting was attended by Divisional Commissioner Jammu, M K Bhandari, Secretary Law, Abdul Majid Bhat, Secretary Assembly, M R Singh, IGP, Jammu Zone, S D Singh, IG Traffic, Jagjit Kumar, Director Estates, Tassaduq Jeelani, Commissioner, JMC, Ramesh Kumar, DIG Rafiq-ul-Hassan, SSP Security, Ashok Sharma besides other senior officers.
Meanwhile, Speaker announced institution of awards for the media coverage of the upcoming Budget Session.
“On the recommendations of the Director Information, we have decided to institute two awards, one each for print and electronic media, for the outstanding and comprehensive coverage of the proceedings of the Budget  Session,” the Speaker announced at the Media Advisory Committee meeting.
The Speaker while deliberating upon modalities for institution of the media awards said a Selection Committee comprising officials of the Assembly Secretariat and representatives from the media would be constituted for the purpose.
Regarding the arrangements for the media persons, the meeting was informed that about 25 parking slots have been allocated to accommodate the media vehicles within the Secretariat premises. Besides, additional parking facility will also be made in the vicinity of the Secretariat including Zanana Park.
Responding to the concern raised by electronic media representatives regarding live coverage of Assembly and Council proceedings on social networking sites, the Speaker said while the media persons can carry their mobile phones inside the Media Gallery, but they should desist from indulging in coverage of the proceedings using their cell phones to maintain the decorum of the House.

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