Srinagar
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Baseer Ahmad Khan, today directed all Deputy Commissioners and concerned departments to establish round-the-clock Joint Winter Control Room in every district of Kashmir division.
The Divisional Commissioner gave these directions while reviewing winter preparedness in all districts of the Division.
The meeting was informed that Nodal Officers from Mechanical Engineering Department (MED), R&B, PMGSY, BEACON, SDRF, PHE, PDD, I&FC, Municipal Committees, Health Services, FCS&CA and other concerned departments will be deployed in these control rooms to provide quick and real time services to the people during erratic weather conditions across the valley.
It was informed that Mechanical Engineering Department has kept 154 snow clearance machines besides R&B, BEACON and RAMKY had stationed adequate number of machines across the Kashmir Division.
The Divisional Commissioner directed concerned Engineers to prepare duty roaster and asked them to keep all machines in the state of readiness to meet any eventuality.
Chief Engineers of PDD and PHE shall keep their men and machinery in the state of readiness to ensure immediate restoration of electricity and water supply besides back up arrangements when need arises, besides PDD will start branch cutting along HT lines and complete the process within a fortnight, the meeting was told.
It was given out that Commissioner SMC shall ensure that inner roads, lanes, bye lanes are cleared of snow immediately and press into service mobile dewatering pumps in the low lying areas to prevent them from getting inundated. He will also ensure that the de-silting of drains shall be carried out on war footing basis to prevent water logging.
Khan asked concerned DCs to deploy disaster management teams at National Highway, far flung and avalanche prone areas before October 25. He directed that blankets, ration, medical kits and other emergency material be kept ready in disaster management centres and organize mock drills in consultation with the concerned Deputy Commissioners. In case of closure of National Highway, concerned officers will ensure to identify holding areas along National Highway where trucks and passenger vehicles would be stationed there, he added.
Deputy Commissioner Anantnag, Baramulla and Ganderbal will ensure that road connectivity to tourist destinations of Pahalgam, Gulmarg and Sonamarg shall not get snapped during snowfall, the meeting was told.
FCS&CA Department was directed to ensure 100% stocking of essential commodities in far-flung and snow bound areas within a week. Health Department will ensure proper heating and adequate medicines in all hospitals and other health centres in winter months. Forest department shall distribute fire woods to masjids and shrines before November.
The Divisional Commissioner asked officers to adopt proactive approach besides better coordination to meet any eventuality and manage winter challenges in a dynamic manner across Kashmir Division so that general public feel essence of good administration.
Deputy Commissioner Budgam Tariq Hussain Ganai, Chief Engineer PHE, Director FCS&CA, Commissioner SMC, Principal GMC, Conservator Forests, Additional Commissioner Kashmir Bilal Ahmad Bhat, Additional Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Deputy Director FCS&CA, Assistant Commissioner (Central) Noor-ul-Hamid and other concerned officers were present in the meeting where as other Deputy Commissioners participated the meeting via video conferencing.
