Examiner Bureau | Srinagar:
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday directed departments and agencies across Jammu and Kashmir to strengthen winter preparedness, ensure coordinated snow clearance and maintain essential services in areas vulnerable to heavy snowfall and prolonged disruption of road connectivity.
Chairing a high-level meeting to review winter arrangements, the Chief Minister emphasised the need for clearly defined responsibilities among road-maintaining agencies. He directed the designation of nodal officers to coordinate snow clearance operations and ensure that roads do not remain unattended due to a lack of coordination.
Abdullah called for the advance deployment of manpower and machinery, effective monitoring and synchronised operations by the Roads and Buildings (R&B) Department, Mechanical Engineering Department, Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), urban local bodies and the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), among other agencies.
Reviewing electricity supply arrangements, the Chief Minister directed the Power Development Department and distribution companies to strictly adhere to notified power curtailment schedules.
He said consumers must be informed promptly about unscheduled power interruptions caused by technical faults or other unavoidable circumstances. Field staff, he stressed, should not impose additional power cuts at their own discretion, and any changes to approved schedules must be authorised at the appropriate level and communicated to consumers through suitable channels.
The meeting also reviewed arrangements for stocking ration, LPG and other essential commodities in snowbound areas, along with measures to ensure the availability of electricity, drinking water and healthcare services during severe weather conditions.
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Anshul Garg and Divisional Commissioner Jammu Vikas Kundal presented winter preparedness plans for their respective divisions.
Particular attention was given to areas prone to heavy snowfall and prolonged isolation, including Gurez, Machhil and Karnah, besides vulnerable parts of Poonch, Rajouri, Udhampur and Kathua.
The Chief Minister stressed the need to identify vulnerable residents in advance and ensure access to emergency medical assistance whenever road connectivity is disrupted.
The arrangements reviewed included the deployment of 4×4 ambulances, helicopter services wherever required and the monitoring of maternity cases in vulnerable areas to facilitate timely medical intervention during emergencies.
Abdullah directed all departments to work in close coordination with district administrations and establish effective communication between field staff and district authorities to address emerging challenges without delay.
Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary, Ministers Javed Rana and Satish Sharma, Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Additional Chief Secretary, Power Development Department, Ashwini Kumar, and Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Dheeraj Gupta attended the meeting.
Administrative secretaries, deputy commissioners, senior police officers, Director Information J&K, managing directors of the Jammu and Kashmir power distribution companies, heads of departments and other officials were also present. Officers stationed outside Srinagar participated through video conferencing.
