Srinagar, Nov 4:
The Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Baseer Ahmad Khan has been asked to monitor the restoration of essential services, especially power supply, affected by the unprecedented snowfall in the valley and initiate disciplinary action against the Government officials showing laxity in performing their duties during the prevailing situation. These directions were issued by the Advisor to Governor Khurshid Ahmad Ganai while chairing a high-level meeting, here, today, convened to review the status of restoration work undertaken by various departments in the valley. The Advisor said that addressing public grievances is high on the agenda of the Government and directed the officers to speed up the restoration work of power supply, clearance of roads, dewatering of inundated areas besides ensuring availability of medicos, paramedics and medicines in Government run hospitals. He asked all the officers to mobilise available resources and ensure that affected services are restored in a time-bound manner. Advisor asked the Divisional Commissioner to keep a close eye on the situation and take necessary measures for mitigating the problems of the people. The Divisional Commissioner said that he has asked all the Deputy Commissioners of the Valley to intimate him on hourly basis about the progress of restoration work started in their respective districts by PDD and R&B departments besides the Border Roads Organisation. “I am in touch with all the DCs and getting brief from them about restoration operation on hourly basis and will review the power restoration process at another meeting at 4 PM today” said the Divisional Commissioner assuring the Advisor that no stone will be left unturned in addressing the grievances of the people. Regarding road clearance, the meeting was informed that all the roads, especially district roads, are open for traffic barring the roads connecting Gurez,
No laxity of officials
Machil, Tanghdar, Keran and Leh, which have witnessed heavy snowfall. Over 100 snow clearance machines have been put in service by the mechanical wing of R&B department and special care is being taken on keeping open Srinagar-Gulmarg road on which sophisticated machines have been deployed for this purpose there, the meeting was told. The officers of BRO informed that their people are trying hard to open all the roads falling within their jurisdiction and assured that Srinagar-Leh road will be reopened within two days provided there is no fresh snowfall in the area. They said that all out efforts are being made to keep open Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, the life line of the Valley. While briefing the Advisor about the restoration of power supply in the Valley, the officers of Power Development Department (PDD) said that all men and machinery have been mobilised for removing the fallen tress hampering the power supply in certain areas. They said major transmission line are working as normal and assured that by evening most of the lines will be cleared for power supply in the Valley. He said restoration of power supply to all the hospitals have been completed. Regarding working of hospitals, the officers of health department informed that all the hospitals are working normally. In the backdrop of unprecedented snowfall, the orders have been issued to start heating system in the hospitals from today itself, which otherwise was commencing from Nov 15 every year. Doctors and para-medical staff are on duty as per schedule. Besides Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Dr. Syed Abid Rasheed, senior officers from PDD, R&B, Mechanical Department, SMC, Food and Civil Supplies, Health, Police, BRO were present in the meeting.
