Pole reviews winter preparedness of departments
Directs for enhancement of capacities, advance mobilization of resources
SRINAGAR: Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Pandurang Kundbarao Pole on Monday convened a meeting to review the winter preparedness of different departments across Kashmir division.
The Divisional Commissioner impressed on Additional Commissioner Jammu and DC Ramban to facilitate the smooth movement of vehicles from their side particularly during morning and evening hours.
He said the markets along National Highway remain abuzz during which creates traffic jams and interrupts smooth flow of vehicles.
He also asked them to stock salt in advance that can be used to spray over road at Patnitop which gets slippery due to snow and frost.
Besides, he directed the officers to keep snow clearance machinery ready at critical junctions for instant action to facilitate flow of vehicles.
The Divisional Commissioner stressed on Chief Engineers of R&B and MED to use new sophisticated machinery instead of crude snow clearance machinery. He exhorted them to chalk out priority wise snow clearance plans and directed them that priority once decided shall not exceed or change.
He asked them to put the priority plan in public domain so that people shall know in advance about the locus standi of their respective areas.
Similarly, PMGSY and SMC officers were directed to enhance the capacity of men and machinery for snow clearance. Pole directed that the public should be made aware that no one should throw snow off lawns on lanes.
He directed for making helipad service functional in Kupwara and Bandipora for far-off areas which remain cut off due to snow.
He also directed concerned DCs to streamline ticket booking and issuance of tickets in a transparent manner besides directed deputation of staff there and snow clearance mechanism.
He directed for issuing advance avalanche warning for hilly areas so that damage to property and loss of lives is avoided.
For the safety of orchards, Pole instructed the director of horticulture to issue an advisory for pruning of plants so damage due to snow can be reduced.
Officials of PDD were instructed to prepare schedules for power distribution and confiscate crude electric appliances from the market besides advance dumping of stock at Subdivision level.
It was informed that advance dumping of stock of transformers, poles and conductors have been initiated by the department besides 80% branch cutting was also completed.
Chief Engineer PHE was asked to ensure functioning of WSS across the districts and stocking of diesel for DG sets for lift filtration plants. Besides, Div Com directed logistics to staff stationed in snow bound sources of WSS.
The concerned officers of Fire and Emergency were asked to conduct fire audits of government and commercial buildings besides advising people to keep fire extinguishers in houses for safety of property.
Similarly, Pole directed the concerned to maintain sufficient quantity of essential food items in stock besides asking for market checking to control black illegal profiteering by traders during closure of highway due to snow.
KV News
