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Omar receives brief on restoration of essential services
Published on
Thursday, 13 March 2014
7:39 pm
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Stresses on quick response to emergency needs
Jammu: Chief Minister, Omar
Abdullah this morning received the brief on the status of restoration of
essential services badly hit by the untimely heavy snowfall in the Valley and
hilly region of Jammu Division.
According to a statement issued to KNS, the two teams of
top ranking officers headed by Chief Secretary, Mohammad Iqbal Khandey and
Financial Commissioner Revenue, Arun Kumar who visited the Valley and Doda,
Ramban and Kishtwar districts yesterday to oversee emergency nature works and
monitor the process of restoration of essential services, apprised the Chief
Minister about the status of ongoing restoration operation in the Valley and
hilly region of Jammu Division at a high level meeting Omar Abdullah chaired
here in this regard.
The Chief Minister was informed that 80 percent to 90
percent power supply has been restored in most of the areas barring a few where
severe damage has caused to the installations. It was stated that the
transmission towers in Budgam, Shopian, Anantnag and other areas have received
much damage. The men and machinery is in full swing to restore the damaged
towers and transformers to ensure supply of electricity.
The Chief Minister was told that the restoration of power
supply to various public service installations have been all most restored and
work to achieve 100 percent goal in this direction is on. It was stated that
there are 42,000 transformers installed in the State and during such calamities
a good number of these develop snags which take some time to restore.
The Chief Minister directed for installing lightning
conductors with the transformers which are in lightning prone areas and get
damaged due to lightning. “You should make a rule to install transformers along
with lightning conductors”, he told the Power Department.
The meeting was informed that all the priority-I roads
have almost been cleared from snow while as the work is on a pace for clearing
priority-II and priority-III road communication links. The Chief Minister was
told that the work on clearance of landslides and snow on National Highway is
on full swing and the road is expected to be opened for traffic by today
evening.
The Chief Minister also ascertained the dewatering
operation in the Srinagar city and around. He said since the fast snow melting
will add to this problem, as such, all resources need to be mobilized to put on
the service ensuring de-watering in the water logged areas. He was informed
that besides fixed de-water stations, Fire Services’ water pumps and the water
pumps of Agriculture Department are also being put to service in water logged
areas.
Taking brief about the status of damages caused to water
supply service due to the heavy snowfall and rains, the Chief Minister was told
that about 175 water supply schemes in Jammu and 43 in Kashmir were affected.
It was stated that most of these have been restored and restoration work on the
rest is on fast track.
It was stated in the meeting that as many as 17 deaths
have been reported due to the snow catastrophe while 57 cattle have also got
killed in the calamity. There has been tentative estimate of partially and
fully damages to 1922 houses in Kashmir Division while as the damage to the
property in the Jammu Division is being assessed.
An amount of Rs. 5 crores have been released to Kashmir
Division and Rs. 1.20 crore to Doda, Reasi, Kishtwar and Ramban districts for
meeting the urgent exigencies, the meeting was told.
The Chief Minister also received brief about the
restoration of telecommunication services in the State. He was informed that
most of the service has been restored and there will be total restoration
within a couple of days.
The Chief Minister while receiving the brief about the
stock and supply position of essential commodities was informed that most of
the areas hit by snow have good stocks of fuel and essential commodities. The
Chief Minister directed that wherever needed supply of essentials should be
despatched from the headquarters.
The Chief Minister also directed the concerned to arrange
helicopter sorties for evacuating persons from the snow bound areas. He also
directed for keeping close eye on the markets so that unscrupulous elements do
not exploit situation and create scarcity of essentials to highjack prices.
The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary, Mohammad
Iqbal Khandey, Financial Commissioner Revenue, Arun Kumar, Principal Secretary
Planning and Development, B. R. Sharma, Principal Secretary Finance, B. B.
Vyas, Commissioner Secretary PHE, Pawan Kotwal, Commissioner Secretary Power,
A. K. Mehta, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Shantmanu, Commissioner Secretary
R&B, Tanveer Jahan, Commissioner Secretary Revenue and Rehabilitation,
Vinod Koul, Commissioner Secretary CAPD, Basheer Khan, Commissioner Secretary
Housing, Satish Nehru, Chief General Manager BSNL, Mr. Koul.(KNS)
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