BUDGAM, OCTOBER 21: Deputy Commissioner (DC) Budgam, Jatin Kishore, Wednesday chaired a meeting at the Conference Hall to review winter preparedness across the district and assess the readiness of various departments to tackle snowfall and weather-related exigencies.
The Deputy Commissioner, as per an official statement, directed the advance stocking of ration and other essential commodities in all snow-bound areas and stressed effective inter-departmental coordination to minimise public inconvenience during the winter months.
The DC directed Municipal Committees to deploy adequate vehicles and machinery in priority areas, particularly near hospitals, on roads and at other essential locations.
The Mechanical Engineering Department was asked to keep trucks, snow cutters, tractors and other machinery ready, ensuring timely repairs and thorough testing.
Stressing the timely floating of stage contracts, the Deputy Commissioner instructed the R&B and PMGSY departments to distribute machinery across designated routes to ensure prompt snow clearance. He instructed the Additional Deputy Commissioner to devise a robust winter action plan and ensure that the contact details of drivers and information regarding the mobilisation of other resources remain readily available.
The Power Development Department was directed to maintain buffer stocks of transformers and transformer oil for the prompt restoration of electricity. The Jal Shakti Department was asked to ensure adequate stocks of pipes and uninterrupted water supply.
Reviewing healthcare preparedness, the Deputy Commissioner stressed the need for adequate backup arrangements at hospitals, the availability of 4×4 ambulances and heating facilities, besides sufficient staff and medicines at all healthcare facilities.
He instructed the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department to maintain adequate stocks of essential commodities and LPG and ensure their availability in snow-bound areas.
Fire and Emergency Services was asked to ensure sufficient fuel stocks and operational readiness, while Civil Defence and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) were directed to strengthen emergency response training and disaster mitigation preparedness.
The Deputy Commissioner stressed the need to operationalise the Snow Control Room from November 1 to ensure a timely response to public grievances and emergencies. He also called for effective traffic management measures and the issuance of advisories against roadside parking to facilitate snow clearance.
The meeting was attended by the Joint Director (JD) Planning, Superintending Engineers, Executive Engineers from the R&B, Hydraulic, PMGSY, KPDCL and Mechanical Engineering departments, CMO, DySP Civil Defence, Assistant Director (AD) Fire and Emergency Services, Assistant Director (AD) FCS&CA, and Executive Officers of all Municipal Committees.
