Kathua admin gears up to host Chaitra Navratra Festival

KATHUA: Additional Deputy Commissioner, Atul Gupta, today chaired a meeting of officers of different departments to review the arrangements being put in place for the celebration of Chaitra Navratri festival to be observed in the district from March 22, 2023.

At the outset, the Additional Deputy Commissioner emphasized upon the administrators and Pujaris of the Temples and shrines to ensure environment protective measures during the Navratra festival. He asked for installation of QR Code at prominent places for the convenience of the Yatris willing to donate.

During the meeting, issues including road connectivity, cleanliness, uninterrupted electricity, regular drinking water supply, security, medical facilities, traffic management, check on the rates and quality of food items and deployment of fire tenders etc. were discussed in detail.

The ADC directed the engineers of PWD, RDD, Jal Shakti and JPDCL to make necessary arrangements for uninterrupted services well in advance. He asked the Police authorities to make foolproof security arrangements by deploying an adequate number of personnel at all religious places.

For the maintenance of sanitation and cleanliness at Shrines/ Mandirs, the ADC directed Municipalities to take proactive measures with the help of Temple/ Shrine Committees.

The ADC directed Traffic authorities to formulate an elaborate regulation plan for effective management of traffic during the event and place signboards at prominent places for the convenience of the devotees.

The enforcement departments were asked to keep a check on rates and quality of food items being sold during the festival. The Health Department was directed to organise Health Camps for Yatris and keep sufficient provision for Medicare for the visitors.

Calling for use of eco-friendly stuff, the ADC called upon representatives of Mandir Committees to switch to traditional Pattal-Doona for Langar and Prashads and avoid Single Use Plastic.

The Motor Vehicle Department was directed to keep a strict check on overloading and overcharging by transporters.

Earlier, representatives of Mandir committees of Mata Balasundri, Jasrota Mata Mandir, Sherkotla Mandir, Ashapurni Mandir, Mata Balasundri Nagri etc. projected issues and demanded immediate attention of the administration.

The ADC passed on the spot instructions to the concerned department to redress the issues before the start of Navratra festival.

ASP, Suresh Kumar Chib; ADC, Billawar Vinay Khosla; ADC, Basohli Ajeet Singh; CEO BBDA, CEO BDBA, SDM Hiranagar, SDM Bani and officers of other concerned departments were also present.