SRINAGAR: Deputy Chief Minister, Surinder Choudhary, today emphasised for an effective and coordinated mechanism in place to ensure snow clearance within the shortest possible time in prone areas of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Deputy Chief Minister was chairing a high-level meeting today at the Civil Secretariat, Srinagar, to review the preparedness for snow clearance operations for the winter season.
The meeting was attended by several MLAs including Kangan, Sonawari, Gulmarg, Uri, Sopore, Pattan, Baramulla, Pampore, Beerwah, Shopian, Pahalgam, Anantnag East and Chanapora besides Divisional Commissioners of Kashmir and Jammu, Deputy Commissioners of all districts, Chief Engineers and other senior officers from the Public Works (R&B) Department, Mechanical Engineering Division (MED), PMGSY, NHIDCL and BRO.
During the meeting, a detailed winter action plan was presented which envisaged the smooth functioning of essential services and connectivity across the Union Territory, particularly in snow-prone areas.
It was informed that as a matter of priority, MED will oversee the clearance of 10,223 km of roads with 6,728 km categorised as Priority-1, including highways, hospital routes and roads to critical infrastructure. Besides, PMGSY has finalised contracts for snow clearance on 4042 km of rural roads with an additional 4 contracts under process, the meeting was apprised
It was also given out that 310 snow clearance machines have been mobilized by MED, with an increase from 254 machines last year. Besides, a total of 293 operational staff have been deployed, compared to 231 last year, to handle challenging conditions.
The meeting discussed key roads and highways such as NH-44 (Banihal-Qazigund), Mughal Road, Bandipora-Gurez Road, and Patnitop routes as critical areas of focus requiring special focus. Ensuring uninterrupted supply chains for LPG, petroleum and essential commodities was identified as a priority area.
BRO, NHIDCL and PWD (R&B) highlighted the availability of snow cutters, dozers and graders to maintain road connectivity. Besides, SMC and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) presented their readiness to handle city roads with 422 machines including de-watering pumps and de-icing materials.
The Deputy Chief Minister emphasised the need for inter-departmental coordination and directed all the Deputy Commissioners to monitor ground-level operations through virtual meetings regularly.
The Divisional Commissioners presented PowerPoint summaries of their respective regions showcasing the available infrastructure, personnel and strategies to tackle heavy snowfall.
The Deputy Chief Minister commended the officials for their proactive approach and directed the departments to ensure prompt road clearance and adequate stockpiling of essential supplies such as de-icing salt, urea and fuel.
“This winter preparedness plan is vital to ensure the safety and well-being of the citizens of Jammu and Kashmir. It is our collective responsibility to ensure uninterrupted services and timely response to emergencies,” the Deputy Chief Minister maintained.
