JAMMU, MARCH 2(KMW): Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today chaired the first meeting of the Cabinet here after assuming the charge yesterday.
The Cabinet took stock of the relief and rehabilitation effort mounted by the State Government in the wake of the devastating floods of September, 2014.
The Cabinet decided to constitute a Cabinet sub Committee under the Minister incharge of the Irrigation and Flood Control Department that will visit the affected areas in central, north and south Kashmir and the worst affected areas in Jammu division to assess the immediate long term needs of the affected population. The committee has also been tasked to interact with the organizations / associations of the affected traders, whose concerns need to be addressed immediately.
The other members of the committee include Mr. Lal Singh, Mr. Haseeb A. Drabu, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari, and Mr. Imran Raza Ansari.
The Cabinet also reviewed the latest status of the spread of H1N1 (Swine flu) in the State and the availability of medicines, protective kits and testing facilities in this regard.
Expressing great anguish over the spread of the disease, the Cabinet condoled with the families of those who have died as a result of Swine flu in the state. Taking a serious view of the non-availability of testing facilities for H1N1 in Jammu, the Cabinet ordered the immediate establishment of such a facility at Government Medical College, Jammu. The provision of Rs 6.30 crore for the establishment of an H1N1 testing laboratory at GMC, Jammu out of the current year’s annual Plan was ordered with immediate effect.
The Cabinet decided to start a second H1N1 testing facility at Chest Disease Hospital, Srinagar for which the necessary equipment and regents are being procured on a war footing. Funds required for the purpose shall also be provided to the Principal, Government Medical College, Srinagar from the State Plan immediately.
The Cabinet also reviewed the weather situation across the State and the impact of the bad weather on public services, issuing instructions for the immediate restoration of all the affected services, including roads, power supply, the availability of drinking water and communications.
The Cabinet asked the Chief Secretary to ensure deployment of all available resources by way of men and machinery for the immediate snow clearance on all roads by issuing necessary directions in this regard to the Public Works Department, the Divisional Commissioners and all the Deputy Commissioners.
