Srinagar, Jan 30 (KNS): Authorities on Monday asserted that post snowfall situation in Kashmir valley will be dealt energetically. They said the infrastructure pertaining to snow clearance has been widely augmented in last three decades.
Talking to Kashmir News Service (KNS), SE Mechanical & Hospital Engineering Kashmir Division Mr. Shafat Ahmad Jeelani said that his department is fully prepared to deal with post snowfall situation. He said the department has augments its infrastructure in last few years with an aim to address exigencies on time.
“We are fully prepared to deal with snowfall conditions in valley. In 80’s the department had only 7 snow clearance machines with sole focus on Srinagar district, however the fleet has been augmented and as of now we have more than 300 snow clearance machine in hand. The infrastructure has been improved in last 35 years,” Jeelani told KNS.
He said every year the department prepares action plan and devise fool proof strategy to deal with the situation. “We have 10 districts of Kashmir Valley who falls in our domain. There is a road length of more than 10,000 kilometers that need to be addressed in snowy conditions. We have divided these districts into four zones and all necessary operational and maintenance arrangements have been put in place accordingly. Already 16 control rooms have been established who are connected with these four zones and remain alert round the clock,” he said.
The officer said department is fully geared up its men and machinery to deal with the post snowfall exigency. “We have procured machinery from Germany and Switzerland, who have been sent to all control rooms prior to the emergency. This year we have procured 50 new machinery who have been added into the existing fleet,” the officer said.
He added the department is working in tandem with sister departments including Roads and Buildings who have a reach to those far off areas where we can’t take on the situation.
He further added that people often complaint post snowfall situation that machinery has damaged roads badly while lifting snow, however this issue has also been resolved this year. “We have ensured High Molecular Wight Polyethylene plastic cutting edge by which we can protect our roads from damages,” he added. (KNS)