Div Com reviews snow preparedness

SRINAGAR: Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Dr Asgar Hassan Samoon today reviewed snow preparedness in an officers meeting in view of forecast of rain and snow.
The Chief Engineer Mechanical Engineering Department informed that Kashmir Valley has been divided into three Zones for snow clearance purposes and 93 snow clearances are available with the Department, including snow ploughs and snow cutters. Srinagar, Budgam and Ganderbal have been clubbed into Zone-1 and with 36 machines in total. Central Snow control room has been established at Shalteng, Parimpora which has started functioning round the clock. The contact number of the snow control room is 0194-2497458. Anantnag, Pulwama and Shopian have been kept in Zone-2 with 24 machines whileas, Baramulla, Kupwara, Bandipora including Gurez and Tangmarg, Gulmarg are Zone-3 with 33 machines. Snow Control Rooms have been established by the respective Deputy Commissioners in all the districts. The Mechanical Engineering Department has planned to mechanically clear snow from 4926 kms of black topped roads, this year as against 4175 kms cleared last year.
Divisional Commissioner directed that snow clearance of roads leading to PHE plants including Rangil, Alastaing, Doodhganga and Nishat should be taken up on first priority. He also advised the Power Development department to keep a squad in readiness to repair any transmission lines.
Dr. Samoon directed the Chief Engineer EM&RE that in case of any power failure the restoration of supply to hospitals and essential services including dewatering stations should be carried out immediately. Joint Commissioner, Srinagar Municipal Corporation was advised to ensure functionality of all dewatering stations in the city especially in the low lying areas and set-up a control room at SMC so that public can request for dewatering in case of water logging. In case of dire need and only after the approval of Divisional Commissioner the Fire Services can also be deployed for dewatering.
Director CA&PD informed that there is adequate supply of LPG and other essential supplies. There are over 1 lakh cylinders of LPG with HPCL, BPCL and IOCL besides additional supplies on wheels.
Later, Divisional Commissioner alongwith the officers inspected the Power Grid Station at Bemina and Snow Control Room at Shalteng and interacted with the officials posted there and asked them to work with zeal and dedication.
It was informed that Gulmarg recorded a snow depth of 5 inches, Gurez 4”, Sedow 6”, Hirpora 5”. The Mechanical Engineering Department started snow clearance on Gulmarg-Tangmarg road at 6 a.m. and road is open for traffic and snow clearance was also done at Sedow and Hirpora which recorded a snow depth of almost 6 inches. Sonmarg-Zojila-Gumri road recorded around 6 to 10 inches of snow. Srinagar-Jammu National Highway is open for traffic. Vehicular traffic has been suspended on Bandipora-Gurez road, Kokernag-Simthen road and Kupwara-Tangdhar road. All flights including Hajj flights operated normally.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar Meh’raj Ahmed Kakroo, Director CA&PD Kashmir, Abdul Wahid Tak, Chief Engineer M&RE Mohammed Muzaffar Mattu, Chief Engineer Systems & Operation, Chief Engineer Mechanical Engineering, Shafat Ahmed Chesti, Joint Commissioner, SMC, Fayaz Ahmed Bala, Superintending Engineer PHE Kashmir, Abdul Hameed, Executive Drainage SMC, T.K Bhat and Farooq Ahmed, Director Meteorology, Srinagar, Sonum Lotus, Deputy Director Fire and Emergency Services, Khurshid Ahmed Bazaz and Head Disaster Management Aamir Ali.