Post-snowfall scenario in Srinagar: DC inspects services restoration efforts in district-wide tour

SRINAGAR, JANUARY 14: The response mechanism activated yesterday to deal with the situation arising out of heavy snowfall and rains in the district was today further intensified aimed at soonest possible restoration of affected services.
Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary visited various urban and rural areas across the district including peripheral and low-lying areas to assess the post-snowfall situation and personally inspect the efforts to restore the affected services.
Snow-clearance of roads and dewatering of inundated areas besides restoration of power, all of which were set into motion Monday in the midst of snowfall and rains lashing the district, remained administration's areas of focus today with efforts being reinforced aimed at earliest possible restorations across these sectors.
Some of the areas where the DC visited were Pantha Chowk, Lasjan, Dhara, Theed, Harwan and Faqir Gujri in the outskirts, Khanyar, Hazratbal, Soura and Eidgah in the old city and Shalteng, Bemina, HMT, Natipora and Chanpora in the south of the district and elsewhere. He assessed the availability of essential services including power and water supplies, healthcare, ration and fuel and also took stock of restoration of roads, power supply and dewatering of roads and lanes in the affected areas.
At Lasjan, the concerned department was directed to strengthen the health infrastructure. Concerned officers were asked to convene a meeting with locals of Lasjan and Soiteng and come up with a plan for efficient drainage system in the area for which it was informed the district administration would provide funds. Meanwhile, an amount of 1 crore rupees was authorised for release on the spot towards strengthening of drainage in these areas.
Dr Shahid also interacted with the public at several places including at Harwan where he also visited the Tehsil office. In response to a complaint of locals about unavailability of LPG, two trucks were immediately pressed into service for the area. He also inspected the status of snow clearance and power and water supplies at Khonmoh, Shivpora, Khanyar and Hazratbal areas, where people expressed satisfaction with the administration's efforts.
The DC also visited important installations of health, power, water and mechanical engineering during his visit. Speaking on the occasion, he said heavy rains following snowfall led to massive water-logging but the administration was quick to respond pressing into service all resources available including fire tenders and portable pumps of the Fire services department.
He said the dewatering departments are under strict instructions to ensure uninterrupted operations aimed at swift dewatering in all areas especially those where important installations like hospitals and receiving stations are located.
It should be noted that in addition to 80 dewatering stations and 115 mobile pumping stations of the SMC, over a dozen fire tenders and pumps of the F&ES have been pressed into service for dewatering efforts across the city. These are in addition to 10 pumping stations of the UEED covering areas surrounding the Dal lake.
Meanwhile all concerned line departments including PWD, PHE, SMC, PDD, UEED and Traffic have deployed adequate men and machinery on the ground to deal with the situation. Also, officers have been designated as nodal officers for different zones to oversee the restoration operations within their areas of jurisdiction. The FCSCA, meanwhile, has been asked to keep a watch on quality and pricing of commodities.
It should be noted that all line departments also have established control rooms for the convenience of general public and all of them are under strict instructions to work in close coordination amongst themselves.
Pertinently, yesterday evening, the DC chaired an emergency meeting of senior officers of all line departments directing them to be proactive and ensure quickest restoration of affected services. He directed for continued efforts and close coordination between all line departments as long as the current weather situation prevails and until all affected services are restored.