Ready to meet eventuality of snowfall in Valley: Authorities

In the backdrop of snowfall halting the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway commutation every year in the winters, the authorities have said they were ready to meet any eventuality of a snowfall in the Valley.
"Mechanical Engineering Department has kept 103 snow cutters ready for snow clearance while Border Roads Organisation will press 133 snow clearance machines into service for clearing snow on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway," an official spokesman said here yesterday.
Authorities in Kashmir have 239 snow clearance machines and other equipment in readiness to meet the eventuality of a snowfall in the valley, he said after a review meeting.

The meeting, chaired by Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Shailendra Kumar, was informed that three cranes have been kept available for towing away stranded vehicles on the National Highway.
Kumar directed the officials concerned to ensure timely clearance of snow from roads, lanes and by-lanes of the valley in case of snowfall.
The Srinagar Municipal Corporation was asked to ensure clearance of snow from all lanes and by-lanes in the Srinagar district and gear up its men and machinery for dewatering of inundated areas of the district.

The meeting was informed that sufficient stocks of essential commodities are available for the valley consumers, the spokesman said.

The Divisional Commissioner directed the Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution department to mobilise its checking squads to curb profiteering, hoarding and black marketing in the valley.
The traffic authorities were also directed to set up a control room to keep the people informed about the status of the National Highway.