Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik Sunday took stock of the situation arising due to heavy snowfall and ordered immediate restoration of essential services in the affected areas.
Normal life was disrupted the Kashmir valley and parts of Jammu region experienced moderate to heavy snowfall Saturday.
The governor is personally monitoring the situation and has issued instructions to the power development and public works departments for immediate restoration of electricity supply and road connectivity in the affected areas, an official spokesman said.
Malik directed the administration to expedite efforts to mitigate difficulties of people and meet their requirements in view of the inclement weather conditions, he said.
The spokesman said the advisers and the chief secretary have been asked to get regular updates on restoration of essential services from the concerned so that people do not face any inconvenience.
On restoration of electricity supply, the governor was informed that massive damage was caused to transmission lines and transformers due to snowfall and uprooting of trees. Restoration work is in full swing, he said.
The power department has informed Malik that by this evening electricity would be restored in 90 per cent of the affected areas while in other areas restoration work is underway, the spokesman said.
Regarding restoration of road connectivity, the governor was told that all inter-district roads have been restored and the Srinagar-Jammu highway will be open by this afternoon.
Malik has also asked the principal secretary finance to make adequate funds available the power and public works departments for replacement of damaged transformers and snow clearance operations respectively, the spokesman said.
In view of the ongoing board examinations, the governor has asked the education department to make adequate heating arrangements at test centres,he said.
Malik ordered deployment of enough pumps to ensure speedy drainage of water from inundated areas.
He said the Public Health Engineering department should ensure that there is no disruption of drinking water supply.
The governor also directed evacuation of all passengers stranded on the Srinagar-Jammu highway, the Mughal road and other major arterial links in the state, the spokesman said.
Canadian Emergency System being used for power restoration: Hridesh Kumar
SRINAGAR, NOVEMBER 04: Commissioner Secretary PDD, Hridesh Kumar today briefed the media persons that the State Government has procured latest emergency system from Canada for quick Power Restoration work in the Valley.
“Due to the recent and unprecedented snowfall, four HT towers have fallen down in Lessar, Wanpoh, Shopian and Kulgam. Power Development Department (PDD) has already deployed their men and machinery with Canadian Emergency System at the spots for the quick restoration work so that electricity supply will be restored as soon as possible. Power restoration in rest of the valley is almost complete”, he informed.
He further said that due to unprecedented snowfall, green trees had fallen on HT lines which had disrupted power supplies. As has been the practice, PDD has done pruning and cutting of tree branches, along the power HT Lines, so that any untoward incident will be averted.
He said that the department will go a step further and ensure the problem is taken care of beforehand. “In future, PDD will take serious preventive measures. From tomorrow PDD staff will inspect all transmission lines regularly to tap lacunas so that people do not face any kind of problem in winters,” he further informed the media.
