Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Nov 24: Chief Secretary, Madhav Lal today asked divisional administration to gear up men and machinery to face any challenge during ensuing winter with regard to heavy snowfall resulting in blockade of National Highway and major link roads besides urged to ensure availability of essential commodities in the Valley during ensuing winter. The Chief Secretary was addressing a high level officers meeting convened to take stock of availability of LPG, Kerosene Oil, essential commodities and power supply in Valley. The meeting was attended by Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Dr. Asgar Hassan Samoon, Inspector General of Police Kashmir, S.M. Sahai, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Baseer Ahmad Khan, Director CA&PD, Mushtaq Ahmad Mir, Chief Engineers of Power Development Department, R&B and Mechanical Engineering, Commissioner, Srinagar Municipal Corporation, Joint Director Information Kashmir besides representatives of Oil Companies. The meeting was informed that out of 3.5 lakh blocked LPG connections, about 3 lakh connections have been unblocked besides process of verification and formalities about KYC, COR etc of remaining connections is underway. Mr. Madhav Lal stressed for expediting the verification process and also directed the Oil Companies to ensure home delivery of LPG to the consumers, which will be monitored by a task force comprising of representatives of Oil Companies, CA&PD, Revenue and Police Departments who will submit the feedback on day to day basis to the divisional administration. He also directed Manager, Indian Oil Corporation to ensure bulk storage of LPG in the Valley within week’s time. While reviewing the power scenario in the Valley, the meeting was informed that a buffer stock of 200 transformers is available and about 240 transformers are being repaired at different workshops of Power Development Department. In this connection, the Chief Secretary asked the PDD authorities to gear up for repairs of all the damaged transformers in time bound manner and replacement of electric poles and wires as per requirement of different areas. He also directed for installing meters uncovered areas and ensure recovery of pending electricity dues from the defaulters. The Chief Secretary also took stock of the arrangements made for snow clearance and necessary steps being put in to meet out any eventuality in case of heavy snowfall. Chief Engineer Mechanical Engineering, Kashmir apprised the meeting that 101 snow clearance machines have been kept available in the Valley which has been divided into three zones for the purpose. Taking stock of the availability of essentials, the meeting was informed that as many as 36,000 metric tons of rice, 12000 metric tons of atta and wheat and 3500 metric tons of sugar are available in the godowns of Food Corporation of India and CA&PD besides about 4300 kiloliters of kerosene oil and 2 lakh LPG cylinders have been distributed among the consumers of the Valley during the current month. Commissioner, Srinagar Municipal Corporation, Dr. G.N. Qasba also apprised the meeting about the arrangements made by the Srinagar Municipal Corporation to clear lanes and bye lanes of the city so that there is no obstacle in smooth movement of traffic on the roads and routine movement of public is assured by clearing the snow manually as well as with machines besides installation of dewatering pumps. Lashing out on those having vested interests who are bent upon creating artificial scarcity of essential commodities through hoarding and profiteering, the Chief Secretary issued categoric instructions to all stakeholders to intensify market checking and ensure availability of quality edibles and other essential commodities. The Chief Secretary directed the concerned authorities to work with coordination, zeal and zest so that common masses may not suffer. He also issued instructions to the Beacon authorities to clear the snow on priority basis from National Highway especially from Qazigund to Patnitop area where there is apprehension of heavy snowfall.
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