SRINAGAR, February 17: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday chaired a high-level review meeting to assess and streamline arrangements for the upcoming holy month of Ramadan across Jammu and Kashmir, directing all departments to ensure smooth public services and enhanced coordination during the sacred period.
Underscoring the spiritual and social significance of Ramadan, the Chief Minister stressed that public convenience and essential services must remain uninterrupted. He called upon all departments to adopt a proactive approach so that citizens can observe the holy month in a peaceful and comfortable environment.
A major focus of the meeting was sanitation. The Chief Minister directed intensified cleanliness drives, particularly around mosques, shrines and other key congregation points. He instructed civic bodies to increase the frequency of garbage collection and ensure that public spaces remain clean throughout Ramadan.
Special attention was given to uninterrupted power supply, especially during Sehri and Iftar hours. The Chief Minister directed the Power Development Department to undertake advance planning of curtailments, if unavoidable, and ensure timely maintenance of transformer banks. He also asked for the designation of nodal officers to closely monitor electricity supply and address grievances promptly.
Water availability was another priority area. Reviewing preparedness of the Jal Shakti Department, the Chief Minister instructed officials to ensure seamless drinking water supply and deploy water tankers in advance to water-stressed localities, particularly before Iftar timings, so that residents do not face inconvenience while breaking their fast.
Ensuring adequate availability of essential commodities also featured prominently in the deliberations. The Chief Minister directed strict market inspections to prevent hoarding, black marketing and overpricing. He asked officials to ensure proper display of rate lists and availability of items such as rice, atta, sugar, LPG, poultry, vegetables, fish and other daily necessities at fair prices.
In terms of public safety and security, the meeting reviewed arrangements for round-the-clock patrolling, anti-sabotage checks and crowd management, especially during Friday prayers. Fire and emergency services will be stationed at key locations, while traffic management plans will be strengthened to ease congestion around major religious sites.
Healthcare preparedness was also discussed in detail. The Chief Minister instructed the Health and Medical Education Department to ensure adequate deployment of doctors, paramedics and support staff during Iftar hours, noting that patients should not be left unattended due to staffing gaps. Ambulance services and emergency medical support will remain on alert at major congregation points.
The Chief Minister further emphasized priority distribution of welfare assistance to underprivileged families, widows and orphans during Ramadan. He also directed strict monitoring of donation collections to prevent misuse and ensure that charitable contributions reach genuine beneficiaries.
Transport arrangements were reviewed, with particular attention to public buses and e-bus services. The Chief Minister directed preparation of proper rosters to ensure sufficient availability of public transport during peak hours, especially when many vehicles tend to go off roads around Iftar time.
The meeting was attended by senior officials, including Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, Additional Chief Secretaries, Divisional Commissioners, senior police officers and departmental heads. Deputy Commissioners and SSPs participated through video conferencing. A detailed presentation on preparedness was delivered by Commissioner Secretary General Administration and Information, M Raju.
Concluding the meeting, the Chief Minister reiterated the need for close coordination among departments to ensure uninterrupted utilities, effective grievance redressal, healthcare readiness, sanitation, security and smooth traffic management across the Union Territory during the holy month.