Darbar Move: J&K govt to function from Srinagar as summer sets in

Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir government is all set to start functioning from the summer capital in Srinagar from Monday after shifting from winter capital as part of the pre-independence bi-annual Darbar Move practice.[caption id=“attachment_2771046” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  The Civil Secretariat complex in Srinagar. Reuters[/caption] Raj Bhavan, Civil Secretariat and other offices were closed in Jammu on 29 April and are scheduled to reopen in Srinagar on Monday as per the ‘darbar move’, a century-old practice under which government functions six month each in the two capitals of the state. The government would function in the summer capital till late October and then move to Jammu, the winter capital of the state, in the first week of November. Authorities have made all necessary arrangements, including security, to ensure smooth functioning of the offices in the Kashmir Valley. Security agencies in the Valley have made arrangements for re-opening of Civil Secretariat and other Darbar Move offices in the summer capital. “We have taken all necessary steps to ensure the security of the Civil Secretariat and other Darbar Move offices. We have discussed measures relating to security, traffic and deployment of personnel by different wings of Jammu and Kashmir Police and other security forces with regard to the Darbar Move,” a security official said. He said law and order situation in the Valley is fully under control and police and other security agencies have taken all measures to ensure that peaceful atmosphere prevails. He said Director General of Police (DGP) K Rajendra Kumar chaired a high-level security meeting on May 5 to take stock of security, traffic and law and order arrangements ahead of Darbar Move. He called for greater coordination among all law enforcing agencies to ensure security and law and order in summer capital and other parts of the valley during the summer season. Every year, the city gets a face-lift on the eve of re-opening of Civil Secretariat and other move offices. Besides, the government offices and quarters have been renovated and the street lights restored. The roads around and leading to the Civil Secretariat are being renovated, with labourers busy cleaning the pathways and painting the roadsides, officials said. On the reopening of offices, work will begin from 9.30 am to 5 pm at the Civil Secretariat, they said, adding that for other departments located outside the Secretariat, work will begin from 10 AM to 4 PM. Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) has announced ‘secretariat gherao’ march on Monday. PTI