Chief Secretary R.D. Dhiman presided over a review meeting on winter preparedness organised by Disaster Management Cell-Revenue Department with the Deputy Commissioners and line departments of the State here today.Chief Secretary directed the officers to ensure that coordinated action plans be put in place for uninterrupted power and water supply, availability of public utilities and to stock essential items especially for snow bound areas.
He said that connectivity, hospitals, power, water supply and educational institutions should be the priority of the administration. He also directed to identify vulnerable areas as per the previous experiences and deploy adequate men and machinery by prioritizing areas for snow clearance.
He said that deployment of machinery like bulldozers and snow cutters should be well in advance besides carrying out necessary repairs. The process of procurement of equipment and snow blowers should be completed well in time, he stressed.
He directed the district administrations to take actions to deal with the impact of the cold wave, especially for those areas where a fog-like situation was a general phenomenon and adversely impacts the people, agriculture and horticulture crops in the state.
The Chief Secretary also directed for keeping liaison with Air Force, Army Units, ITBP and Para Military organizations within their respective jurisdiction so that well-coordinated operation could be undertaken in case if any exigency.R.D. Dhiman said that guides accompanying the trackers should be duly approved and guidelines should be adhered strictly.
He emphasized for proper monitoring of movements of the trackers to the high reach areas.He directed the Himachal Road Transport Corporation for making arrangements of snow chains for the vehicles and shuttle system or alternate traffic management for high reach areas.
He also gave necessary directions to Public Works Departments, Jal Shakti, Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board, Urban Development, Telecommunication, Civil Defense, Food and Civil Supply and other departments.Director-cum-Special Secretary, Revenue-Disaster Management Sudesh Mokhta conducted the proceedings of the meeting. Senior officers of various departments attended the meeting.