Srinagar, May 1: Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Baseer Ahmad Khan, on Saturday held interactive meetings with representatives of Trade Bodies, Tourism Industry, Industries, Religious leaders and other stakeholders at Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Center (SKICC) here to discuss issues arisen due to outbreak of second wave of Covid pandemic besides working out remedial measures.
Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, Mohammad Aijaz Asad, Director SKIMS, Dr A G Ahanger, Commissioner SMC, Amir Athar, Director Tourism, Kashmir, Dr GN Itoo, Director Health Services Kashmir, Dr Mushtaq Ahmad Rather, Director Rural Development Department and other senior officers were present in the first meeting while the second meeting was attended by Deputy Commissioner Budgam , Chairman DDC Budgam and other officers.
While interacting with the representatives in both the meetings, Advisor sought their cooperation to the administration in dealing with the global pandemic more efficiently and effectively for good of the community. He urged upon them to ensure strict adherence to all SOPs and guidelines regarding Covid to save precious lives. He sought cooperation from the religious heads, PRI members, transporters, business community, tourism players and civil society members to use their influence in motivating people towards strict adherence to Covid guidelines.
Advisor called for a vigorous vaccination drive asking all the participants to make people aware about the significance of vaccination to reduce the spread of Covid-19 and protect precious human lives. He said that all possible measures are being taken to ensure adequate supply of essentials to combat the second wave of Covid-19. He said J&K has abundant resources with potential to tackle any eventuality as there is no dearth of vaccines, drugs or medical oxygen.
Advisor directed the SMC authorities to intensify sanitization and fumigation drives particularly at markets, religious places, transport vehicles and other vital places where large number of people visit.
SMC Commissioner gave a brief account of the activities being taken up by the Municipality in this regard.
Advisor stressed for augmenting the health infrastructure besides preparing a meticulous and actionable plan to address any medical emergency. He asked both the Deputy Commissioners to have resource assessment done in terms of infrastructure, oxygen availability, bed capacity, ventilators, manpower and other infrastructure to be ready for any possible spike in COVID positive cases.
Advisor directed the Deputy Commissioners to conceptualize plans for efficient vaccination, management of containment zones, movement of people, food and supply, medicine, emergencies, avenues of wages and other aspects that need prime focus at this stage. He directed them to have mobile supply vans ready to suffice to the needs of people at their door steps in the containment zones.
Advisor exhorted for ensuring that the wage employment programmes like MGNREGA and agricultural operations go smoothly amid adherence to Covid SOPs adding the government is taking calibrated measures for saving both lives and livelihoods together.
Highlighting the importance of IEC and awareness activities for mitigating the infections, he asked the officers to rope in PRI and ULB members besides religious leaders and committees at micro level in this regard.
Deputy Commissioners of Srinagar and Budgam, Ajaz Assad and Shahbaz Mirza gave detailed presentation about the Covid-19 management efforts being taken up besides giving the profile of infrastructure, oxygen and bed availability in their respective districts.
Responding to the suggestions and issues put forth by the participants, Advisor assured them that all possible measures will be taken up for betterment of the business community.
On the occasion, all stakeholders associated with Trade, Transport, Tourism and NGO assured the Advisor their full support towards supplementing administration’s efforts regarding the fight against the second wave of Covid pandemic.
