Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Reviews Muharram-ul-Haram Arrangements Across Valley
Srinagar, June 6 (PTK): Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Anshul Garg, on Friday chaired a high-level meeting of senior officers and stakeholders to review preparations for the forthcoming Muharram-ul-Haram and ensure smooth, peaceful and hassle-free observance of religious rituals and processions across the Kashmir Valley.
The meeting focused on assessing civic, infrastructural, logistical and administrative arrangements required during the holy month, with special emphasis on inter-departmental coordination and continuous engagement with community representatives.
During the meeting, MLA Budgam Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi highlighted several issues requiring immediate attention in Shia-majority areas. He stressed the need for uninterrupted electricity and drinking water supply, road repairs and macadamization, proper street lighting and adequate deployment of medical personnel at major religious venues.
Representatives of various associations and stakeholders also raised demands related to sanitation and cleanliness, fumigation drives, availability of firewood, ration and LPG supplies, control of stray dog menace, deployment of water tankers, issuance of permissions for religious events, traffic management, identification of parking spaces and shuttle services for mourners.
Emphasizing the importance of effective coordination, the Divisional Commissioner directed all Deputy Commissioners and concerned departments to designate nodal officers and share their contact details with community representatives to ensure prompt redressal of issues.
The Deputy Director Planning, Divisional Commissioner’s Office, was designated as the Divisional-level Nodal Officer for overall coordination and monitoring of arrangements.
Garg instructed Deputy Commissioners to prepare detailed district-wise checklists and ensure that all immediate concerns are addressed on priority. He also directed that long-term developmental issues highlighted by stakeholders be incorporated into future planning initiatives.
To facilitate smooth movement of processions and mourners, the Divisional Commissioner directed the preparation of a comprehensive list of roads requiring repair and macadamization in Shia-dominated areas and asked the concerned departments to complete necessary works well before the commencement of Muharram.
The Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department and Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) were directed to ensure uninterrupted water and electricity supply throughout the Muharram period. Additional water tankers will also be deployed in areas witnessing higher demand.
The Divisional Commissioner further instructed departments to ensure adequate availability and timely distribution of essential commodities, including ration, LPG and firewood, particularly in areas where demand is expected to rise during the observance.
Highlighting the importance of sanitation and public hygiene, Garg directed the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) and other Urban Local Bodies to undertake special cleanliness drives around Imambaras, congregation venues and procession routes. He stressed pre- and post-procession sanitation measures, including intensified waste collection and disposal operations.
The Health Department was instructed to deploy sufficient medical teams, ambulances and emergency response units at key locations and strengthen manpower, particularly in Srinagar and Budgam districts, to provide timely medical assistance to mourners.
The Divisional Commissioner also directed the preparation of comprehensive traffic management plans, identification of suitable parking areas and operation of shuttle services wherever required to facilitate smooth movement of devotees and minimize inconvenience to the public.
Calling for foolproof security arrangements, Garg stressed close coordination among Police, civil administration and security agencies to ensure peaceful conduct of all religious events and processions.
Reaffirming the administration’s commitment to facilitating Muharram-ul-Haram observances, the Divisional Commissioner urged all departments to complete arrangements in advance and work collectively to ensure that all religious gatherings are conducted smoothly, peacefully and with utmost convenience for devotees.
The meeting was attended by the DIG Central Kashmir, Deputy Commissioners, officers from KPDCL, PHE, R&B, Health, FCS&CA, Fire & Emergency Services, Srinagar Municipal Corporation, Police, security agencies and other concerned departments.(PTK)
