Srinagar, Feb 17: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Tuesday chaired a high-level meeting to review arrangements for the holy month of Ramadhan across Jammu and Kashmir.
Emphasizing the importance of ensuring smooth public services during the sacred month, the Chief Minister directed all concerned departments to take proactive measures for the convenience and welfare of the people.
The Chief Minister stressed the need for intensified sanitation drives across J&K, particularly around major places of worship, shrines, mosques and other congregation points. He instructed authorities to increase the frequency of garbage collection and ensure cleanliness throughout Ramadan.
He directed all departments to ensure seamless public service delivery, effective grievance redressal, and necessary arrangements at major places of worship to ensure a peaceful and comfortable Ramadan for the people.
The Chief Minister directed the concerned departments to ensure power and water supply, availability of essential commodities, market regulation, healthcare preparedness and security measures across J&K.
The meeting was attended by Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani; Additional Chief Secretary Jal Shakti Shaleen Kabra; ACS to the Chief Minister Dheeraj Gupta; ACS Public Works (R&B) Anil Kumar Singh; Commissioner Secretary Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs; Commissioner Secretary General Administration Department/Information; Divisional Commissioners of Kashmir and Jammu; Inspectors General of Police of Kashmir and Jammu zones; Secretaries of Health & Medical Education and Transport; IG Traffic J&K; Deputy Commissioner Srinagar; Commissioner Srinagar Municipal Corporation; Director Information; and heads of several key departments. All Deputy Commissioners, SSPs and other concerned officers attended the meeting through video conferencing.
Commissioner Secretary GAD/Information, M. Raju, gave a detailed presentation on the preparations and arrangements put in place to ensure the smooth conduct of the holy month of Ramadan.
Highlighting the significance of uninterrupted power supply, especially during Sehri and Iftar hours, the Chief Minister directed the Power Development Department to ensure proper planning of curtailments, if unavoidable, and undertake timely maintenance of transformer banks. He also instructed the designation of nodal officers to monitor supply.
Adequate drinking water availability was also reviewed during the meeting. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah directed the Jal Shakti Department to ensure seamless supply, including special tanker services during peak hours. He instructed that water tankers be deployed well before Iftar timings in water-distressed areas so that people can break their fast on time without any disturbance.
The Chief Minister also laid emphasis on ensuring availability of essential commodities such as rice, atta, sugar, LPG, poultry, vegetables, fish and other daily necessities. He ordered strict market checking to curb hoarding, black marketing and profiteering, ensuring fair pricing and proper display of rate lists.
For public safety, the meeting was told about the strengthening security arrangements through round-the-clock patrolling, anti-sabotage checks and effective crowd control, particularly during Friday prayers. Fire tenders will be stationed at prominent locations, while traffic management measures will be enhanced around mosques and major religious places to avoid congestion, the meeting was told.
The meeting was informed that health services will remain on high alert during Ramadan, with emergency medical arrangements and ambulance deployment at congregation sites. Regular stakeholder meetings will also be held for prompt grievance redressal.
The Chief Minister instructed the Health & Medical Education Department to ensure deployment of doctors, paramedics and other staff during Iftar timings, noting that it has been observed that staff shortages during these hours leave patients unattended.
He further directed priority distribution of aid to underprivileged families, widows and orphans, and called for strict monitoring of donation collections to prevent fraud and ensure genuine welfare support.
Regarding transport facilities, especially RTC services and e-buses, the Chief Minister directed preparation of proper rosters, noting that most transport goes off the roads during Iftar timings. He emphasized ensuring adequate availability of public transport for commuters.
The Chief Minister reiterated that all departments must work in close coordination to ensure smooth Ramadan arrangements, focusing on sanitation, essential supplies, uninterrupted utilities, healthcare readiness, security and traffic management across Jammu and Kashmir.
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