HYDERABAD, Feb 8: District Nazim Dr Makhdoom Rafiquzzaman, at a meeting here on Tuesday, constituted a committee to monitor the law and order situation and ensure facilities during mourning processions in Muharram.

The district peace committee's meeting held at the Shahbaz Hall discussed arrangements for Muharram. The nazim presided over the meeting.

Mr Rafiquzzaman told the meeting the DPO would head the committee till the election of its chairman.

He said the 14-member committee, comprising the Wasa managing director, taluka municipal officers and three members from talukas of City, Latifabad and Qasimabad as its members, would meet daily to take decisions and ensure their implementation.

The nazim directed the management of the Hyderabad Development Authority to ensure uninterrupted water supply and proper functioning of the drainage system to facilitate mourners.

He said desilting of the drainage system, especially around the Qadamgah Maula Ali and Sarfaraz Chari, should be done on emergency basis and round-the-clock availability of pump operators be ensured.

Mr Rafiquzzaman added that action, including removal from service, would be taken against officials who did not implement the orders.

He directed officers of departments concerned to remove encroachments from routes of Ashura. He also called for patch-work on roads and repair of streetlights.

Mr Rafiquzzaman asked Hesco authorities to avoid load-shedding during Muharram so that regular water supply and functioning of the drainage system could be ensured.

He said fire brigades should be kept in running condition and one of them should be given at the disposal of 15 Madadgar to meet any emergency. He also sought cooperation of public.

DPO A. D. Khwaja informed the meeting that security arrangements for Muharram had been finalized.

He said organizers of processions, having permissions, would also have to ensure law and order during processions.

Nizamul Haideri of the Millat-i-Jafria, Taj Mohammad Nahiyoon, Abdul Waheed of the Jamaat-i-Islami and EDOs of all district government departments attended the meeting.

TALUKA COUNCIL: Convener of the city taluka council, Abdul Qadir Nagar, has directed the additional DPO and the Phulleli TPO to attend the Tuesday's session of the council and brief on security arrangements in the city ahead of Muharram.

The directive was issued to the acting council secretary here on Monday when the aforementioned police officials did not turn up.