The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Monday decided to lift the home department’s advisory asking all tourists to leave the Valley immediately. Tourists had been asked to leave the Valley in early August before the Centre announced its decision to scrap the state’s special constitutional status.

Governor Satya Pal Malik directed that the state home department’s advisory asking tourists to leave the Valley be lifted immediately, though it will be done with effect from October 10, the state government said. The governor made the decision following a situation and security review meeting with government officials and Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam. The meeting was also attended by the principal secretaries of planning and housing and urban development department.

In the meeting, government officials briefed Malik about the upcoming block development council elections, which will be held on October 24. The results of these elections will be announced on the same day. Malik was told that there is active interest in the polls, and that most of the seats of the chairpersons of the councils will be filled up.

The officials also briefed the governor about the progress in apple procurement, which has crossed 850 tonnes and worth Rs 3.25 crores. The administration will soon announce a change in the rates of apples.

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