Image Source: THE TRIBUNE

The Jammu and Kashmir administration has initiated the mobilisation of employees to ensure the partial opening of the Durbar move offices in Srinagar from May 4. Even as the 300-km highway is closed for normal traffic, the government has allowed vehicles carrying move officials to Srinagar to ply on the highway. The employees, belonging mostly to the Kashmir region, were provided passes and transport facilities to move amid the lockdown. The partial functioning shall start in Srinagar from May 4, Farooq Ahmad Lone, Commissioner of the General Administrative Department, said. The government has stated that the formal opening of the move offices had been postponed till June 15 this year amid the fear that the opening might affect Covid operations. All officials associated with Covid task shall function from where they are working currently, the officials said. The Civil Secretariat in Srinagar shall start partial functioning from May 4, with staff and officers on “as is where is” basis, an order issued by the General Administrative Department on April 17 said. “All administrative secretaries will put in place robust online/electronic video conferencing/other communication mode at Jammu and Srinagar to ensure a virtual office at both places,” the order read. The Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) has been asked to properly sanitise offices to start the partial opening. Amid the ongoing crisis, special measures are being taken to ensure the working of the offices as well as the safety of employees. The government order had said the situation would be further reviewed on June 15, when the offices would formally open in Kashmir.