Civil secretariat starts functioning in Srinagar

The civil secretariat offices re-opened here on Tuesday after functioning for six months in winter capital Jammu.

Chief minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed was given a ceremonial guard of honour on his arrival at the civil secretariat.

Director General of Police (DGP) K. Rajendra Kumar escorted the chief minister at the ceremony.

Sayeed, along with state chief secretary Iqbal Khandey and other top officials went around different wings of the secretariat to see that the government functioning starts smoothly.

Restrictions on movements of traffic were imposed in Srinagar to facilitate hassle-free movement of the ministers and VIPs.

Sticking to an over 150-year-old tradition set up by the erstwhile Dogra Maharajas of the state, top government offices in Jammu and Kashmir shuffle between the twin capitals of Jammu and Srinagar on a six-month basis during summers and winters.

Offices of the governor, chief minister, cabinet ministers, senior bureaucrats and police officers function in Srinagar from May to October, and in Jammu from November to April.

Kashmir economic alliance, a conglomerate of traders, transporters, industrialists and prominent members of the civil society, has called for a shutdown against the alleged apathy of the state government towards the problems of the Kashmir Valley on the opening day of the government functioning here.