Navratra festival arrangements discussed at Kathua

• DC Kathua review s preparedness for nine-day festival

KATHUA: Deputy Commissioner Kathua Rajesh Sharma today reviewed the arrangements for the ensuing Navratra festival here at a meeting of officials from line departments and representatives from Temple Management Committees.

 Detailed deliberations were held with regard to the arrangements viz cleanliness, sanitation, drinking water, uninterrupted power supply, traffic plan and checking of rates of eatables, besides security arrangements in and around the important temples and shrines of the district.

 The Deputy Commissioner directed the Jal Shakti Department functionaries to ensure regular supply of drinking water at the shrines and other important points enroute to shrines.

The DC asked the representatives from Mandir Management to avoid use of polythene bags for distribution of parshad, besides opting traditional pattal-dona for langar.

 The RTO was directed to strengthen enforcement to keep check on overloading and overcharging by the transporters on Yatra routes. He also directed the Traffic Police to deploy adequate number of personnel for proper traffic regulation to evade traffic congestion during the festival days. 

Committees consisting of officials from Department of Legal Metrology, Food Safety and other enforcement agencies were constituted to conduct regular market checking and take action against use of single use plastic, overcharging and ensure availability of quality and hygienic eatables.

Responding to the issues projected by the Members of Temple management Committees, the Deputy Commissioner directed the concerned officers for the mitigation of the same.

 Similar instructions were issued to ADC Billawar, ADC Basohli SDM Hiranagar and SDM Bani who joined virtually.  ADC Mahima Madan, besides functionaries from all other concerned departments were present in the meeting.