KISHTWAR, OCTOBER 27: Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar Pankaj Kumar Sharma today chaired a meeting in the Conference Hall of the New DC Office Complex to finalize arrangements for the smooth and safe celebration of the Deepawali (Diwali) Festival.
The Deputy Commissioner directed officers of the line departments to take all necessary precautionary measures to prevent untoward incidents during the celebrations. He emphasized the need to raise public awareness — particularly advising parents to ensure that children do not use firecrackers without elderly/parental supervision.
The Deputy Commissioner directed the line departments to strictly adhere to the guidelines and ensure timely implementation of all arrangements discussed during the meeting. He assessed the measures put in place by the stakeholder departments for maintaining law and order, cleanliness and sanitation, uninterrupted essential services and effective crowd management to ensure a peaceful and joyous Diwali across the district.
The Police officials gave details about the security arrangements made in the town, its adjoining areas and around religious places. Similar arrangements have been made in all Sub-Divisions and Tehsils of the district to maintain peace and order, the meeting was informed.
The Jal Shakti Department listed the measures taken for maintaining adequate supply of drinking water supply during the festival. Water tankers shall be deployed at Chowgan Ground, ITI Ground and other identified locations, the concerned officials said. The Department would also coordinate in barricading at Chowgan Ground in connection with the sale of crackers.
The Engineers from JPDCL informed about the measures taken to maintain uninterrupted power supply in the town, adjoining areas and at all religious places during the festival. Further, the Corporation authorities were asked to deploy field staff to deal with any emergency on the main Festival Day.
It was informed that the Health and AYUSH Departments would establish First Aid Camps near Dak Bungalow and keep all PHCs, CHCs and Sub-Centres functional 24×7 with adequate medical staff, ambulances and medicines to attend to emergencies. The Health Department shall also make available emergency equipment and treatment facilities for burn victims and respiratory patients.
A Special cleanliness and sanitation drive around all temples and public gathering places and repair of streetlights would be done by Municipal authorities.
The DC laid special emphasis on ensuring the availability of quality commodities and a close check on black marketing. A joint Market Checking Team, comprising the Tehsildar, Assistant Director FCS&CA, CEO Municipal Council, SHO, District Food Safety Officer and Assistant Controller Legal Metrology, was constituted to conduct regular market inspections from today onwards.
The team shall enforce the display of rate list, check the quality of sweets and other food items and take strict action under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 against violators.
The FCS&CA Department was directed to ensure an adequate supply of atta, rice and home delivery of LPG across the district to prevent inconvenience to the public.
The Assistant Director Fire & Emergency Services was directed to keep fire tenders stationed at Hidyal Chowk, Bus Stand and Dak Bungalow from November 06, 2026 to November 08, 2026.
For smooth vehicular movement, the District Police, MVD and traffic wing were directed to formulate an action plan for effective traffic management and parking arrangements to avoid congestion during the festival.
The meeting was attended by CEO KDA Kaiser Bhawani; ASP Mohammad Shafiq; ACD Manoj Kumar; ExEn Jal Shakti Rohit Wadera; ExEn JPDCL Abdul Hamid; ExEn PWD R&B Shamis Din; DSHO, DO Food Safety, besides members of the Sanatan Dharma Sabha.
