Chief Secretary, B R Sharma Thursday held a video conference with the divisional and district administration to review the situation arising due to snowfall in Kashmir Valley & parts of Jammu division.Administrative Secretaries of PDD, R&B & PHE Departments, Divisional Commissioner Jammu/Kashmir, concerned DCs and other officers were present in the meeting. Asking administration to ensure continuous snow clearance of all major roads, Chief Secretary stressed on keeping supply lines open so that people do not face any problem on account of ration, LPG, Petroleum and other essential commodities and normal traffic movement is not disrupted. He asked PDD to restore/replace all damaged transformers and ensure that damaged HT or LT lines are restored. He also asked PHE authorities to ensure regular water supply and wherever water supply schemes have been affected, water tankers be pressed into service . Anticipating water logging in low lying areas especially in Srinagar city, the Chief Secretary asked the District Administration to ensure that all stationary and mobile water pumps are functional and pressed into service whenever the need arises. He also directed intensive checking of the market by teams of Food & Civil Supplies Department and Legal Metrology is carried out to check hoarding and profiteering.
Chief Secretary received detailed brief from both the Divisional Commissioners and concerned DCs regarding the position of road clearance, power supply, water supply and essential commodities in their respective jurisdictions.Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir informed that out of the 7000 Km of major road length in the division, connectivity has been restored in over 6800 Km length and the remaining will be cleared by evening. He said ample stock of ration, LPG, Petroleum is available and no problem on this account is being seen. He said control rooms have also been established at the district/tehsil level and any complaint received is addressed immediately. Divisional Commissioner further informed that out of the nearly 1963 Water Supply Schemes, some 45 have been affected especially situated in upper reaches due to frost and these will be restored soon. He said to augment water supply in areas fed from affected schemes, 106 water tankers have been pressed into service.
On electricity front, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir informed that all 232 Sub-Stations are functional except one in Uri area. He said out of nearly 25000 transformers, some 300 transformers have been damaged across the valley and PDD authorities have been told to restore/replace these immediately. He said overall the electricity situation in most of the division is satisfactory and electricity cuts are being affected as per the notified curtailment schedule.
About Srinagar city, the Divisional Commissioner informed that he along-with Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar today extensively toured the city to take stock of the ground situation especially in regard to road /lane and drain clearance, electricity and water supply. He informed that the hospitals and territory care units are working as usual and all facilities in regard to heating, medicine availability and langar for patients and attendants were found satisfactory.Divisional Commissioner, Jammu also briefed the Chief Secretary about snowfall situation in various affected districts of the division.With regard to the National Highway, it was informed that a comprehensive plan had already been prepared by the District Administration Ramban under which Quick rescue teams have been constituted to assist stranded passengers at critical locations besides arrangements have been put in place for providing shelter sheds, blankets and other facilities to the stranded passengers during closure of the National Highway.Situation with regard to clearance of roads, supply of electricity, water and ration in Districts of Ramban, Doda, Kishtwar, Rajouri, Poonch and other snow bound areas was also reviewed in the meeting.