Associated News Bureau

SMC Commissioner Reviews Winter Preparedness, Directs Swift Response to Adverse Weather

SRINAGAR, NOVEMBER 11: Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) Commissioner Dr. Basharat Qayoom, IAS, on Wednesday reviewed the Corporation’s winter preparedness in view of the prevailing weather forecast, directing officers to maintain round-the-clock vigilance and ensure prompt response to any situation arising from adverse weather conditions. The review meeting, held at the SMC Central Office in Karan Nagar, assessed the availability of manpower and machinery, snow clearance arrangements and the preparedness of field and monitoring teams. The Commissioner also reviewed the action taken on directions issued during the previous meeting. The meeting was attended by Joint Commissioner (Works), Joint Commissioner (H&S), Financial Adviser/Chief Accounts Officer, Superintending Engineer, Executive Engineers of various wings, Purchase and Procurement Officer, Chief Sanitation Officer, Stores Officer and other concerned officials. Taking stock of the arrangements across the city, Dr. Basharat directed all concerned officers to ensure the availability of field staff, machinery and essential equipment for immediate deployment. He emphasised close coordination among different wings to ensure that public grievances and ground-level issues are addressed without delay. Regarding snow clearance, the Commissioner directed that both manual and mechanised arrangements be kept operational across all municipal wards. He stressed that major roads and vital public routes, particularly those leading to hospitals, ration depots, shrines and government institutions, must be cleared on priority. He also called for adequate manpower to ensure manual snow clearance in interior lanes, narrow streets, footpaths and other areas inaccessible to snow clearance vehicles. The Commissioner reviewed the Corporation’s snow clearance fleet and was informed that vehicles earlier sent for repairs had been repaired and were now ready for deployment. He directed that all available vehicles, machinery and requisite manpower be kept in a state of readiness to ensure an effective response to snowfall. The meeting was further informed that zonal- and ward-level teams had been constituted and were prepared to respond to weather-related situations. The Commissioner instructed these teams to maintain regular communication with their respective officers and monitoring mechanisms to facilitate timely intervention. Reviewing the dewatering arrangements, Dr. Basharat directed that all permanent dewatering stations remain fully functional. He also called for the strategic deployment of high-capacity mobile pumps at vulnerable and low-lying locations to tackle waterlogging resulting from rainfall and snowmelt. Emphasising the importance of effective monitoring, the Commissioner directed the Snow Monitoring Committee and the 24×7 Control Room to maintain continuous coordination with field teams. Complaints regarding snow accumulation, blocked roads and waterlogging, he said, must be promptly communicated to the concerned officers for immediate remedial action. Dr. Basharat also stressed the need for regular field inspections, effective supervision and accountability at every level, making it clear that preparedness must translate into tangible arrangements on the ground. He directed all concerned wings to remain vigilant throughout the winter season, with particular emphasis on timely snow clearance, efficient dewatering and uninterrupted delivery of essential civic services. The Commissioner underscored that coordinated efforts, prompt mobilisation of resources and effective field-level monitoring would be crucial in minimising public inconvenience during adverse weather conditions. ANB