Raja Syed Rather
Srinagar, Jan 7: The J&K administration has procured modern snow clearance machines worth Rs 40 crores out of the total budget of Rs 78 crores this year, while as the authorities on Saturday claimed that men and machinery have been put in alert mode in the wake of snowfall prediction.
Some of the machines with hydraulic power systems will be pressed for the first time during the road clearance.
Chief Engineer Mechanical Engineering Department (MED), Rasheed Ahmad Dar, said that a total budget of Rs 78 crores were allotted to procure the machines and vehicles for snow clearance in Jammu and Kashmir. “The machines and vehicles worth Rs 40 crores have reached us so far while the machines worth Rs 38 crores will arrive soon,” he said.
He said that at present there are three snow cutter machines available, which is meant for heavy snowfall and has been procured at the cost of Rs 18 crore. Besides, two trucks, 30-40 snow 4×4 trucks that are specially meant for Kashmir are presently available.
Dar further informed that a total of 252 machines are available with the department for snow clearance. “The number of machines available with us was 150 only till 2020, but the number has been increased to 252,” he said.
About the weather forecast by Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), Chief Engineer MED said that the man and machinery has already been geared up and a total of 15 control rooms including 10 district control rooms have been established.
He also said that there is possibility of snowfall across Kashmir including Srinagar and special control rooms have been established at some areas including Gurez, Gulmarg and other places.
The Chief Engineer further added that the road clearance over a total of 9000 kilometers falling under MED’s jurisdiction will be ensured very swiftly.
However, he appealed to people not to park their vehicles on the roadsides to ensure that the road clearance work is not hampered. “The people should cooperate in this regard. The people should not park their vehicles on the roadsides,” he said.
