SRINAGAR: Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) Commissioner Dr Basharat Qayoom on Wednesday reviewed the civic body’s winter preparedness and directed officials to keep field teams, machinery and essential equipment ready to respond to snowfall, rainfall and other adverse weather conditions.
The review meeting, held at the SMC Central Office in Karan Nagar, assessed the availability of manpower and machinery, snow clearance arrangements and the functioning of field and monitoring teams.
The Commissioner directed officials to ensure that both manual and mechanised snow clearance arrangements remain operational across all municipal wards. Major roads and routes connecting hospitals, ration depots, shrines and government institutions are to be cleared on priority.
He also stressed the need for adequate manpower to clear interior lanes, narrow streets, footpaths and areas inaccessible to snow clearance vehicles.
During the meeting, officials informed him that vehicles previously sent for repairs had been restored and were ready for deployment. Qayoom directed that the entire available fleet, machinery and manpower be kept on standby.
He was also informed that zonal and ward-level teams had been constituted to respond to weather-related emergencies.
Reviewing dewatering arrangements, the Commissioner directed officials to keep all permanent dewatering stations functional and position high-capacity mobile pumps at vulnerable and low-lying locations to address waterlogging caused by rainfall and snowmelt.
He also stressed effective coordination between the Snow Monitoring Committee and the 24-hour control room, directing them to maintain regular contact with field teams and ensure that complaints about snow accumulation, blocked roads and waterlogging are promptly conveyed to the concerned officers.
Qayoom called for regular field supervision and accountability among all municipal wings, stressing that resources should be mobilised without delay and civic services maintained throughout the winter season.
The meeting was attended by Joint Commissioners, Chief Accounts Officer, Superintending Engineer, Executive Engineers, Chief Sanitation Officer and other senior officials of the corporation.
