Mayor Srinagar visits Dargah, Hazratbal on eve of Shabe Mehraj

Directs uninterrupted power, water supply, sanitation; similar arrangements at all shrines, mosques

Srinagar: As the Shabe Mehraj is being observed tomorrow, Mayor Srinagar Mr. Junaid Azim Mattu along with Commissioner SMC Mr Athar Amir Khan today visited the Hazratbal shrine and reviewed the arrangements made for the devotees at the Dargah. He visited various areas of the shrine and paid his obeisance there.Mattu took on the spot review of the arrangements put in place by Srinagar Municipal Corporation and by other departments including PDD, PHE, Traffic Police, Health Departments for the purpose. He on the occasion directed uninterrupted supply of electricity, drinking water, and sanitation facilities at the shrine complex, in particular during prayer times. Besides Commissioner SMC, Joint Commissioner Adm Syed Abul Qasim, Joint Commissioner Works, and all Senior Municipal Officers were present on the occasion.  Directions were also passed to launch upgraded Sanitation at various other shrines including Peer Dastagear Sahib, Jamia Masjid, Shahi Hamdan, Naksh band sahib, on the occasion. He said that all the machinery including hopper vehicles, sweeping machines, robots shall be pressed into service, and these places be thoroughly cleaned up with lime powder, fumigation, and other disinfectants in view of the Covid 19 pandemic. To facilitate worshippers thronging to the place, Mr. Mattu passed on directions to the concerned to set up a Municipal Camp for the assistance of devotees. He further said that SMC shall setup similar assistance camps at other shrines as well. In view of prevailing weather conditions, he asked for making elaborate heating arrangements for devotees, particularly women, who would be coming for obeisance and other supplications. Mr. Mattu along with Commissioner took round to the areas earmarked for prayers for ladies and gents, places of ablution; facilitation counters etc, and took stock of the facilities put in place there.SMC officials were instructed to deploy additional sanitary workers at all required places to ensure proper cleaning of all religious places. Besides, the mobile toilets facility is also made available to the devotees. While stressing on street lights He said that all the defunct street lights shall be made functional with the installation of more street light as required at these places for the convenience of people.