Sagar asks Admin to wake up to post snowfall exigencies

Srinagar, Jan 11: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference General Secretary Ali Muhammad Sagar on Tuesday asked the administration to come to aid of people, whose lives continue to remain out of gear in wake of the heavy snowfall that lashed the Kashmir division few days ago.
Several villages in the upper reaches of Kashmir division remain disconnected from the district headquarter for the fourth consecutive day after receiving the snowfall, Sagar said, adding that the electricity distribution system, surface connectivity, water supply has been badly affected.
“I have received various SOS calls from North, South and central Kashmir districts, particularly the upper reaches where people continue to face many inconveniences following last week’s snowfall. I was told that the heavy snowfall has thrown life out of gear in the upper reaches of Baramulla, Bandipura, Kupwara, Anantnag, Shopian Pulwama, and Kulgam districts. People in these districts are facing tremendous hardships. The electricity, as well as potable water supply, is disrupted. In case there is any emergency on health grounds, locals are unable to shift the patients to the hospital as authorities have failed to clear snow from roads,” he said.
Sagar said that the people are alleging that the delay in snow clearance is also because contractors are not ready to take part in the snow clearance as the concerned departments have not cleared last year’s snow clearance payment. “Usually concerned departments will hire contractors to clear snow from roads. However, this winter season none of the contractors are ready to clear snow from roads. With the result the entire population of more than a dozen villages are suffering,” he added.
Urging the authorities to initiate snow clearance from far-flung areas and upper reaches of Kashmir division under Mahatma Gandhi Employment Guarantee Act, (MGNREGA) Sagar said that besides ensuring early snow clearance, the measure will also provide job opportunities to scores of people in these hinterland areas.
Sagar urged the govt to gear up CAPD, PDD, Municipal, PWD departments and pass required directions to the respective district and divisional administration to reach out to people with relief and rescue. (GNS)