Deputy Commissioner Bandipora Dr Owais Ahmad Sunday convened a meeting to review the preparedness, arrangements to be made for the winter season and position of winter stocking and supply of essential commodities especially in snow bound areas of the district. On the occasion Deputy Commissioner directed the concerned officers to ensure adequate stock of food-grains, fuel, medicines and other related things are stocked in Gurez before the onset of winter season. Officials informed that the stocking of essential commodities have already started and shall be completed within few weeks The meeting also discussed action plans prepared by the concerned departments to prevent interruption to services during harsh weather conditions. The DC, while hailing the efforts of the concerned during the last snowfall in the district, asked the concerned departments to ensure an even faster response this year. Air lifting of passengers from Bandipora to Gurez and vice-versa was also discussed during the meeting. It was given out that the Kanzalwan Helipad shall be made functional this winter so that the passengers can be airlifted to Dawar, Kanzalwan and Neeru this year. In view of the COVID19 pandemic, DC Bandipora directed the officers to ensure that no passenger travels to the Gurez Valley without getting tested and in no case a symptomatic patient shall be allowed to move into the Gurez valley. Dr Owais also directed for ensuring that snow clearance machines are positioned at all critical spots and that these are pressed into service as soon as snow starts to accumulate. He stressed on prioritising snow-clearance from roads leading to all important installations across the district including Hospitals. He further directed the officials of MED and R&B departments to ensure all arrangements including the readiness of snow cutter machines for winter months. The Deputy Commissioner also directed to establish a joint control room of all the concerned departments at district head quarters besides control rooms at sub-divisional level so that people can communicate to these control rooms in case of emergencies. The meeting was attended by Joint Director Planning Imtiyaz Ahmad, Sub-Divisional Magistrate Gurez, Block Medical Officer Gurez, Executive Engineer R&B and other senior officers of the district.
