Excelsior Correspondent
GANDERBAL, June 6: Minister for Public Works and Culture, Naeem Akhtar today visited Tulmulla to review the arrangements made by the civil and police administration for hoisting the upcoming Mela Kheer Bhawani.
The visit came in the backdrop of the instructions issued by the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti for making the festival a hassle-free affair and to provide additional accommodation for devotees who throng the shrine in thousands to celebrate the annual festival of Goddess Bhawani.
During the visit, Akhtar took stock of the arrangements made for the devotees and the facilities provided for their convenience by the civil and police administration. The officers told the Minister that the Sewage Treatment Plant will be made operational at the shrine before the start of the festival.
Akhtar also discussed the modalities for optimum use of new STP facility to ensure that the environmental hazards are removed from the area around the shrine in a scientific manner. He said the cleaning of Tulmulla nallah will be done at local level, “A permanent and long-lasting option for keeping the nallah clean will be discussed with concerned authorities soon,” he said.
The Culture Minister said a delegation of Kashmiri Pandits had met the Chief Minister recently and sought additional accommodation near the shrine, “In deference to their demands, 17 additional rooms along with kitchen and toilet facilities have been set up near the shrine for the convenience of devotees,” Akhtar said.
The Minister directed the officers of the civil and police administration to ensure uninterrupted water and power supply to the shrine and adjoining areas till the festival is over. He also directed the Food and Civil Supplies Department to ensure sufficient quantities of food grain at depots around the shrine.
Managing Director, JKPCC, SSP Ganderbal, Senior Engineer (Ganderbal Circle) and senior officers of the civil and police administration also attended the meeting.
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