KL Report
SRINAGAR
Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah Wednesday received first hand appraisal of the restoration of important public services and mitigation of difficulties resulted due to heavy snowfall in the Valley.
Chairing a high level meeting of divisional officers here this afternoon, the Chief Minister reviewed the measures put in place by the administration to attend to the road clearance operation, supply of electricity, drinking water, stock and supply position of essential commodities, functioning of health institutions, status of National Highway and plying of traffic on various district routes, Srinagar city and towns.
The Chief Minister also ascertained the preparedness of the administration to face any future eventuality of heavy snowfall as also the arrangements made for Eid-I-Milad-UN-Nabi (SAW).
Omar Abdullah also got brief about the necessary relief extended to the fire sufferers of Dhobighat Hazratbal. The Chief Minister has sanctioned relief of Rs.20,000 each to the 32 families whose houses have gutted in the devastating fire. These families have also been sanctioned Rs.5000 each out of Red Cross fund. The Chief Minister was told that under his directions the Advisor to the Chief Minister, Qamar Ali Akhoon visited the affected families and handed over the cheques to them. He was told that relief and rehabilitation operation for fire affected families is on full swing.
Emphasizing on the responsibility of administration to be on beck and call of the people in the hour of need, the Chief Minister asked the officers of the government to be prompt and responsive to the requirements of people on all counts. He said the road clearance and restoration of important public services that have been affected by the heavy snowfall should be first concern of the government officials.
“There is urgent need of keeping eye on hoarders, black-marketers and unscrupulous elements who utilize the unfavourable situation for increasing the prices and creating false scarcity of essentials”, he said directing the Divisional Administration to be vigilant and make regular market checking a necessary feature in the daily functioning. He also asked them to make sure that sufficient quantity of essentials and fuel is available across the Valley adding that proper and smooth distribution needs to be underlined as a primary concern by the administration.
The Chief Minister received brief about the action taken by the administration to mitigate difficulties on various counts as also its preparedness to be alert to face eventualities. He was given detailed account of the stock and supply position of essentials, restoration of public services including clearance of roads, power and water supply.
It was given out in the meeting that adequate essential commodities sufficient for one month are stocked in the Valley besides kerosene oil and LPG. As many as 2.15 lakh quintals of rice, 25922 quintals of sugar, 93700 quintals of wheat, 6124 kilo litres of kerosene oil, 3.50 lakh LPG cylinders, 11256 kilo litres of diesel and 2899 kilo litres of petrol are presently stocked in the Valley.
The Chief Minister was told that 80 percent electric supply will be restored in the Valley by this evening while it will be 90 percent in Srinagar and North Kashmir districts. As many as 6000 kilometres of roads have been cleared of snow by the R&B Department while the Mechanical Department has made all most all major roads pliable. The work on clearance of interior roads, lanes and by-lanes is on apace.
