Div Com Kashmir reviews winter preparedness of various departments

SRINAGAR: The Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Pandurang K Pole today chaired a meeting of officers to review the preparedness of all line departments for winter and their quick response action plan for restoration of services during and after snowfall.

The meeting was attended by all DCs along with their District HoDs, Divisional HoDs of KPDCL, Horticulture, RDD, ULB, F&CS, Health, Metrological Department, Traffic Police, CEOs of Pahalgam, Gulmarg & Sonmarg, JD Firec and Emergency Deptt, Chief Engineers of PDD, PHE, UEED, PMGSY, MED etc, GM BSNL and other officers of various line departments.

Div Com held a detailed review of each department regarding their preparedness and their action plan besides passed strict directions for ensuring continuous services. He asked all officers present to notify their contact numbers and issue guidelines and advisories pertaining to their development in media for public information. He further directed all the officers no to leave their stations which out permission from District and Divisional administration and these directions shall come in effect from November and will continue till March next year.

He directed divisional heads of Mechanical Department, R&B, RDD, PMGSY, NHIDCL and Border Roads Organization to keep their men and machinery ready including snow cutters, snow clearance machines in a stand by position to clear roads of their respective jurisdiction.

He also directed SMC to remain prepared for snow clearance and dewatering during snow fall in City.

Div Com further directed Food & Civil Supplies Department officer to keep the adequate supply of ration, kerosene, pertrol, diesel and LPG at far flung areas like Gurez which remain cut off during heavy snowfall and other places.

Health Department officials were also asked to stock the medicine and keep other health facilities available in high risk areas besides make availability of 4*4 ambulances at such places.

Meanwhile, he emphasized on CE KPDCL to ensure adequate buffer stock of electric poles, wires, transformers at all stations besides ensure restoration of electric supply immediately in case of any damage caused by snow fall. Div Com also enjoined him to give wide publicity to curtail schedules and maintain adherence to the schedule. He was also told to conduct market inspections for seizure of heating appliances and deployment enforcement teams to check power theft and hooking by people.

Div Com directed Power transmission officers for arguments of various stations in Valley.

Pole directed CE PHE to keep all the water supply schemes functional so the people don’t face scarcity of drinking water besides directed him to keep water tankers available wherever water shortages happens and keep DG sets available at lift water stations to keep them working. He was also directed to address the issue of laying of water supply pipes and construction of bore wells at Sonmarg in a time bound manner.

Regarding Fire and Emergency, Pole directed concerned officers to keep fire extinguishers available in all those remote villages which remain inaccessible for fire tenders during winter.

Moreover, BSNL representatives were directed to ensure uninterrupted communication at Sonmarg and Zojila.