CM Omar calls for seamless services during winter
Srinagar, Dec 24: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Tuesday called for providing seamless services during winter and ensuring connectivity besides providing relief and essential supplies to the people.
Chairing a high-level meeting here at the civil secretariat in Srinagar, CM Omar called for ensuring smooth and uninterrupted delivery of essential services and functioning of vital installations across the Kashmir division.
He conducted a department-wide review of the winter preparedness measures of all line departments.
The meeting reviewed the preparedness of various departments to address challenges posed by harsh winter conditions, particularly in the snow-bound zones of Kashmir and Jammu division.
The CM emphasised the need for a robust mechanism to minimise public inconvenience during severe weather conditions.
He also engaged with Deputy Commissioners (DCs) to assess district-level preparedness and urged them to prioritise timely and effective responses to weather-related challenges.
CM Omar stressed the importance of keeping men and machinery in a state of readiness to ensure the routine functioning of essential installations.
He directed departments to prioritise uninterrupted trade, transport, and essential supplies while addressing disruptions caused by snow, water logging, or power outages.
On snow clearance, the CM was briefed that a sufficient number of hi-tech snow clearance machines have been deployed by the R&B Department, SMC, MED, BRO, and NHAI, with additional machines on standby to handle heavy snowfall.
CM Omar instructed the concerned authorities to focus on clearing key routes, including inter-district highways and roads leading to hospitals, power grids, water supply systems, and fire and emergency services.
The CM was informed that adequate stocks of ration, petrol, diesel, and LPG were available to meet the needs of residents for several months while additional provisions had been made to ensure timely distribution across districts.
CM Omar directed the establishment of joint control rooms in all districts to handle winter-related complaints promptly.
He stressed the importance of a swift response system to minimise public inconvenience and ensure seamless delivery of essential services.
Reviewing the health sector’s readiness, the CM directed the Health Department to ensure adequate stocks of medicines, oxygen cylinders, and emergency supplies across all hospitals.
He also emphasised maintaining functional central heating systems in healthcare facilities and ensuring the deployment of medical personnel in snowbound areas.
Instructions were given for providing transport services to expecting mothers in remote and far-flung areas.
Highlighting the criticality of uninterrupted power supply during winter, the CM instructed KPDCL engineers to prioritise the restoration of electricity, particularly for essential installations.
He called for the timely replacement of damaged transformers and urged for the protection of field staff with proper safety gear to prevent accidents during repair work.
CM Omar underscored the importance of maintaining road connectivity and efficient traffic management.
He directed agencies to deploy sufficient manpower and equipment for snow clearance on national highways, main roads, and internal routes, ensuring minimal disruption to public movement.
The CM urged all departments to work in coordination and take proactive measures to mitigate the impact of harsh winter conditions.
He reiterated his commitment to minimising public inconvenience and ensuring the effective delivery of essential services throughout the region.
CM Omar directed the PHE Department to deploy sufficient water tankers in affected areas to prevent water scarcity during extreme weather conditions.
He also instructed the Forest Department to ensure an adequate supply of firewood in snowbound areas is available.
The CM underscored the significance of coordination among line departments and directed for round-the-clock operationalisation of District Control Rooms to maintain and update records of vulnerable populations, particularly pregnant women in snow-blocked areas.
He emphasised that such cases should be promptly relocated to maternity centres well ahead of their delivery dates.
For regions with the possibility of road block, CM Omar instructed authorities to ensure helicopter services are put in place for such areas which remain cut off.
During the meeting, he reiterated that all preparedness plans should be practical and actionable, ensuring their effectiveness when put to the test.
The CM called for seamless interdepartmental coordination and directed the DCs to maintain regular communication with field officers to address emerging challenges swiftly.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the welfare and safety of the people.
CM Omar assured people that the administration was fully prepared to tackle the challenges of the harsh winter and deliver essential services effectively.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary, Minister for Health and Medical Education Sakina Itoo, Minister for Jal Shakti and Tribal Affairs Javed Ahmad Rana, Minister for Agriculture and RDD Javaid Ahmad Dar, Minister for FCS&CA and Transport Satish Sharma, and Advisor to the Chief Minister, Nasir Aslam Wani who participated through virtual mode.
The meeting was also attended by Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, and Additional Chief Secretary Jal Shakti Shaleen Kabra via video conferencing.
Additional Chief Secretary to Chief Minister, Dheeraj Gupta and Divisional Commissioner Kashmir attended the meeting in person.
Administrative Secretaries, Divisional Commissioner Jammu, senior Police and Security Officers, Deputy Commissioners, Commissioners of SMC and JMC, Officers of BRO, NHAI and other Departments also attended the meeting.
Officers from Jammu and other District Headquarters participated through video conference.
During the meeting, the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir and Jammu gave presentations on the winter preparedness measures already in place across both divisions.
