Baseer reviews I-Day arrangements

Srinagar, Aug 7: Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Baseer Ahmad Khan, Saturday convened an officers’ meeting regarding activities in the run-up to Independence Day celebrations and flag hoisting ceremony.
While chairing the meeting, Advisor sensitized the officers about their role and responsibilities directing them to ensure that all the arrangements are made in advance for smooth conduct of celebration in all the districts.
Advisor while discussing various arrangements like flag hoisting, cultural programmes, security arrangements, traffic plan, sanitation, sports activities, medicare, illumination, distribution of scholarships, inauguration and foundation stone laying of various projects, assigned responsibilities to various departments with directions to the HoDs for undertaking their responsibilities effectively and efficiently.
Advisor directed all the Deputy Commissioners for strict follow up action regarding the activities being conducted by all the departments on the day. He asked the officers to prepare a booklet of activities highlighting each activity in detail with the meticulous micro-planning done so that same is rolled out at various locations on the dates as earmarked for each activity.
Advisor said programmes involving youth should be given special focus. He asked the Director Tourism to organize Shikara rally as part of the celebrations.
He asked the Srinagar Municipal Corporation to display hoardings, bill boards at important locations signifying and highlighting activities of various departments. He also asked them to conduct cleanliness drives besides ensuring beautification of river banks, parks, roads and other installations. He also directed the Director Urban Local Bodies to organize cleanliness drives across all the districts besides asking the officers to launch sanitation and cleanliness drives by involving community members.
Advisor laid emphasis on creating awareness on Covid Appropriate Behaviour through hoardings at all venues saying that achievements with regard to vaccination have to be highlighted. He instructed on felicitating covid warriors and frontline workers for recognition of their services during pandemic. He asked the health department to create vaccination points at certain locations besides conducting special vaccination drives in conjunction with other departments.
Regarding traffic arrangements, Advisor directed for devising a comprehensive plan and sharing the same with the general public so that people do not face any inconvenience. He also directed the Power Development Department to ensure illumination of all the important buildings and institutions in all the districts.
He instructed the Director Information to highlight all the activities being organized during the national event besides ensuring proper media coverage and working out a list of special activities for the Independence Day.
Advisor had a brief detail from DDC, DC and SSPs of the districts with regard to follow up of the directions passed during the last meeting and finalization of the activities in the run-up to the Independence Day.
Expressing satisfaction over the arrangements made by the Deputy Commissioners in their respective districts, Advisor said that vibrant and festive atmosphere should be visible at every place in all districts.
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir said that this year the Independence Day celebrations will be held throughout the day in all the villages. He also said that schools, roads, buildings and other institutions will be renamed after various role models in various fields.
All the Deputy Commissioners, while responding to the directions given by the Advisor in the earlier meetings, informed that the list of works for foundation stone laying, execution and inauguration has already been prepared. They also apprised about other activities they have planned like essay competition, painting, employment generation schemes, vaccination drives to be launched on the day.
The meeting was attended by Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Secretary Tourism Sarmad Hafeez, ADGP Armed Jammu and Kashmir, Inspector General of Police Kashmir, Inspector General of CRPF Kashmir, Inspector General of Police Traffic Kashmir, District Development Commissioner Srinagar, Director Information J&K, Commissioner Srinagar Municipal Corporation, Director Rural Development Department Kashmir, Director School Education Kashmir, Director Floriculture Kashmir, Director Youth Services & Sports Kashmir, Director Urban Local Bodies Kashmir, Director Fire and Emergency Services Kashmir, Director Health Services Kashmir, Director Doordarshan Kashmir, Director Radio Kashmir, Senior Superintendent of Police Srinagar, Chief Engineer KPDCL, Chief Engineer KPTCL, Chief Engineer Jal Shakti Department Kashmir, Chief Engineer PW (R&B) Kashmir and other officers.
District Development Council Chairpersons of Kashmir division and District Development Commissioners and SSPs of various districts of Kashmir division attended the meeting through video conferencing.