DC urges youth, civil society, media to participate
Vehicular movement suspended 4 AM to 3 PM
Traffic advisory issued; diversions for commuters
Younus Rashid
Shopian, May 22: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha will lead a mega anti-drug padyatra in Shopian on Saturday as part of the ongoing 100-day ‘Nasha Mukt J&K Abhiyan’, Deputy Commissioner Shopian Shishir Gupta said on Friday.
Speaking to media persons, Gupta said the padyatra aims to take the anti-drug campaign to every home, village and locality so that people can keep their families and neighbourhoods away from substance abuse.
“The administration alone cannot fight this menace. It has to become a mass movement and public participation is very important to make it successful,” he said, urging youth groups, stakeholders and civil society members to join the event.
He appealed to the media fraternity to help spread awareness so that more people participate in the padyatra.
The DC said elaborate arrangements have been put in place at the venue, including waterproof tents, drinking water facilities, water tankers, fire tenders, mobile toilets and designated parking spaces for participants.
A traffic advisory has also been issued for Saturday’s event. According to Traffic Police Rural Kashmir, vehicular movement from Balpora Crossing to Old Bus Stand via Jahangir Chowk Shopian will remain suspended from 4 am to 3 pm. Commuters have been advised to follow designated diversion routes and avoid unnecessary travel within the town during the event.
The anti-drug campaign was launched by the Lieutenant Governor on April 11, and similar padyatras and awareness programmes have already been organised in several districts of Jammu and Kashmir as part of the outreach initiative against drug abuse.