Srinagar: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Friday reviewed the winter preparedness and logistic arrangements of various departments in a meeting here at Raj Bhavan, an official press release said.
It said the LG directed the concerned officers to adopt a proactive approach to address the needs and requirements of the people; especially those living in far-flung and snow-bound areas.
He asked them to be responsive and take comprehensive measures to minimize the difficulties of common people, work at grass roots level and reach out to the people to address their genuine concerns.
He also directed the officers to put committed efforts to ensure uninterrupted drinking water and power supply and timely restoration, availability of public utilities like firewood, ration, medicines and other basic amenities and essential supplies.
Necessary directions were passed to maintain sufficient stock of firewood, fuel, food-grains, and medicines, especially in remote and difficult terrain areas.
The LG also directed the Power Development Department (PDD) to maintain availability of buffer stock in district headquarters besides ensuring proper functioning of existing transmission lines, transformers, electrical equipment, repair workshops, timely repairs and replacement of the damaged infrastructure and equipment.
According to the press release, after taking assessment from each DC, the LG set a deadline of 24 hours for urban areas and 48 hours for rural areas for replacement of the transformers barring difficult and inaccessible areas.
The LG stressed upon close monitoring of the functioning of the power distribution and transmission channels In order to ensure uninterrupted power supply during the harsh winter days.
While taking the preparedness review of Jal Shakti Department, the LG also set the deadline of the same day in urban areas and within the next day in rural areas for resolving the water supply and repair problems.
Laying special emphasis on ensuring uninterrupted road connectivity and proper traffic management, the LG directed the officers to rationalize the deployment of snow-clearing machinery and equipment for snow-clearance from all the main and internal roads.
All the requisite arrangements must be made in advance for the stranded passengers on the national highway and other important district and town roads, besides putting a check on unnecessary and unruly movements on the national highway for smooth vehicular movement, he added.
The LG directed the concerned officers to timely issue weather advisories and make every necessary emergency facility available to render critical help in any contingent situation.
He also passed directions for setting up of control rooms in every district and the DCs were directed to monitor and to resolve grievances of the people pertaining to power, water, essential supplies, health services, road connectivity, and emergency evacuation/rescue.
The LG asked the Head of departments to closely monitor the winter preparations of their respective departments and directed all the departments to work in a synchronized manner and put in dedicated efforts to avoid any inconvenience to the people of J&K by putting in place a much comprehensive and viable winter preparedness mechanism, the press release said.
The LG also took stock of the implementation of the directions passed in the previous meetings.
