Div Com reviews winter preparedness in districts

Div Com Ramesh Kumar chairing a meeting at Jammu on Friday.
Div Com Ramesh Kumar chairing a meeting at Jammu on Friday.

*Inspects Blue Green projects of Smart City
Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 14: Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Ramesh Kumar today chaired a meeting of heads of the departments and Deputy Commissioners to review the winter preparedness in the districts of the division.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar, Dr Devansh Yadav; Deputy Commissioner Poonch, InderJeet; Deputy Director Planning, Munish Dutta; Chief Engineers of Jal Shakti, PWD, Mechanical Engineering Department, PMGSY, JPDCL, Deputy Director FCS&CA, Deputy Director Health Services, besides senior officers BRO, NHAI, NHIDCL, Oil Companies, Traffic Police and other concerned officers while other Deputy Commissioners of Jammu division along with concerned officers attended the meeting through video conferencing.
The Div Com took district wise review of preparedness in the districts regarding maintenance of National Highways, link roads, water, power supply scenario, snow clearance and overall winter arrangemnts.
While reviewing winter preparedness for clearance of roads, the Div Com directed PWD, NHAI, BRO, MED to ensure tenders are floated for maintenance and ensure quick clearance during snowfall in the districts. He also stressed that the roads leading to tourist destinations should be cleared on priority so that tourists don’t face any inconvenience.
The Deputy Commissioners apprised the Divisional Commissioner about the water, power supply position, availability of ration, fuel, LPG and other essentials in their respective districts.
Reviewing the power supply scenario in each district, the Chief Engineer PDD informed about the areas prone to breakdowns during the winters. He informed that necessary buffer stock has been maintained in districts for replacement of damaged transformers in the shortest possible time.
The Div Com instructed the Engineers of JPDCL to keep men and machinery ready for restoration of power supply in case of disruption due to snowfall.
The Div Com directed the concerned Engineers to make special arrangements for snow clearance in the districts which experience heavy snowfall to keep the roads traffic worthy.
The Heads of the Departments and Deputy Commissioners were asked to activate 24×7 Divisional and district level control rooms and notify helpline numbers and put them in public domain. The HODs were asked to issue duty rosters of staff on a regular basis and maintain adequate stocking of essentials to avoid shortage during traffic disruption due to snowfall.
The Div Com also passed directions to the health department to keep an adequate stock of life saving medicines, surgical equipment and other necessary medicines to avoid deficiency in the districts, besides ensure adequate heating arrangements in health care institutions, Hospitals.
He also advised DCs to prepare disaster Management Plan and identify volunteers for quick response during any exigency.
The snow bound highway districts were directed to identify suitable shelter locations to use them during road blockade.
Meanwhile, Div Com conducted an extensive tour of Jammu city and inspected various ongoing Blue Green Projects being executed under Jammu Smart City Mission.
The Div Com was accompanied by CEO Jammu Smart City Limited Rahul Yadav; Additional CEO, Hitesh Gupta; project directors, site engineers and other concerned officers.
The Div Com visited Railway Station, Gorkha Nagar and took a round of the entire stretch along the Tawi Canal and inspected the pace of ongoing works there.
It was informed that the work is in progress on Blue green project for Tawi canal from Gorkha Nagar to Railway Station at the cost of Rs 17.83 crore.
Meanwhile, the Divisional Commissioner visited Bakshi Nagar and inspected the pace of ongoing works on the Blue Green Project for the Ranbir Canal from Paloura to Bakshi Nagar (Phase 1 and 2). It was informed that the project cost is Rs 20.17 crore.
It was informed that the project includes improved access to the park paved courts in Park area, green berm with gentle slope, construction of double storey Parking for 29 vehicles, pedestrian bridges to connect left and right sides of the Canal banks, replacing old electric poles with new one, park lighting, water ATMs and many other facilities.
The Div Com directed the executing agencies to expedite the pace of work keeping in view the quality parameters and complete the work within fixed timelines.