Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU/ SRINAGAR, Jan 8: Leaders of different political parties today urged the Government Administration to ensure that all contingency plans are executed smoothly in case of any emergencies due to inclement weather conditions.
Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari said that he has received numerous calls from the people across Kashmir division, especially from remote areas, who have complained about the negligent attitude of the administration with regards to road blockades, power failure and essential services.
“The roads in these areas have not been cleared off the snow thus making it extremely problematic for locals to step outside their homes. The Government should dispatch special teams to supervise the road clearance drives in all the districts,” he said, adding that the widespread power blackouts during snowfall was adding to the misery of the people as the conventional sources of energy like Kerosene and firewood are not accessible to them anymore.
“The emergency healthcare lines and allied services need to be kept on guard in order to avoid any mishaps while ensuring that ailing and sick face no inconvenience at all,” he further said.
Castigating the administration for its ill-preparedness to handle the expected snowfall, CPI (M) leader Mohamad Yousuf Tarigami has said that although a heavy snowfall is not something new for the region but tall claims being made prove a prank.
Referring to the massive power breakdown that had plunged the entire valley into total darkness, he said that the administration failed to restore power supplies. “In most of the areas in valley especially South Kashmir, the restorations claims made by the PDD are hoax while the snow is yet to be cleared on many roads and a major road network in rural areas across the Valley is yet to see the traffic plying,” he said and urged upon the administration to ensure that there is no scarcity of essential commodities including LPG, kerosene, sugar and ration.
National Conference MP from Anantnag, Hasnain Masoodi, while calling for an immediate redressal of grievances of the general public in view of snowfall in the last two days, made phone calls to respective district commissioners of South Kashmir and impressed upon them to ensure that surface connectivity and public utility services are restored in all South Kashmir districts forthwith.
Seeking prompt action to alleviate miseries of people, he asked the district commissioners to acquire intermittent briefs from concerned PDD, PHE, FCSCA officials about the status of the restoration of power supply, clearance of snow from the roads, adequacy of food items, fuel, water supply, availability of medicines and other basic amenities in areas of South Kashmir.
NC State Secretary Sakina Itoo has asked District Administration Kulgam to ensure that roads are cleared and people are able to move freely to health facilities. She has impressed upon the administration to ensure that electricity, water supply is restored in far flung areas of the district.
NC South Zone President Dr Bashir Veeri has also expressed dismay over the damage caused to orchards following heavy snowfall in the area. He has also requested administration to ensure road connectivity and water supply in the affected areas.
Expressing concern over disruption of power and drinking water supply due to incessant rains and snow fall in Kashmir valley, Chairman People’s Democratic Front (PDF) Hakeem Yaseen has also urged the Government to put in extra measures to mitigate hardships of the affected people.
He said that despite taking high-level meetings about the Government preparedness, there was nothing tangible visible on the ground. ” Electric and drinking water supply need to be restored on war- footing basis besides removing stagnant waters from the low lying areas,” stressed Hakeem Yaseen and also urged the Government to restore traffic movement on National Highway on emergency basis to maintain supply position in the valley .
Apni Party, District President Kandi Belt (Bani-Basohli) Kathua, Yasar Choudhary said that several places have been cut off due to landslides. “There is a landslide in Chak Surjana and it is not being removed while the Katli to Malhar road is also disconnected due to sliding at various places,” he said.
J&K Border Area Development Conference (JKBADC) today demanded immediate announcement of relief package for the people affected with week-long continuous rain-snowfall spell in entire J&K. Dr Shazad Malik, former Vice Chancellor and Chairperson of the JKBADC, urged the Lt Governor Manoj Sinha to declare week long spell of bad weather as Natural Disaster and announce relief package.
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