Winter is a challenge

As the new civilian government settles down to chart out its course, there is an array of tasks that can brook no delay. Some of the challenges are more political in nature and it is not that easy to go at a pace in such matters; one can understand.

There are some long term administrative challenges also, like creating jobs, that will require some real ground work. Though people  are watching very keenly on every single matter that has been talked about during the election time, but it would be unrealistic to expect this government to do all of it just in  a matter of days.

But there are some matters that cannot wait. The winter preparedness is one such area. The winters are almost here, light snowfall in some upper reaches has already occurred, and there is a reasonable dip in night temperatures. The valley and its adjoining areas are not new to winters and the  government also knows well what the people require in winters.

The government needs to quickly draw a comprehensive plan on how it is going to mobilise resources for winter related matters, and also put the concerned departments in a state of preparedness. The civic amenities like water supply and electricity supply must be on the top of the priority list.

The demand for electricity goes way up in winter months and this is something that cannot be ignored. Since the dependence on electricity has deepened over the years, life goes haywire when there are long and unscheduled cuts. To ensure the required supply of electricity, government must make a detailed plan right now and ask the concerned department to find ways and means to improve the plans subsequently.

Another area of concern related to winters is the clearance of roads in case there is a snowfall. Though we now have a better weather prediction system in place, but even then the changes in weather patter are sometimes unpredictable. A moderately heavy snowfall is a potential disrupter, unless our concerned departments are in state of combative readiness.