Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Dr Raghav Langer, conducted a two-day extensive tour of district Ramban and reviewed the progress on snow clearance, water and power supply restoration works & road clearance works in the District post snowfall and rains.
District Development Council Chairperson Ramban, Dr Shamshad Shan, Deputy Commissioner, Ramban, Mussarat Islam, President MC, Banihal, Farooq Ahmed Wani, DDC Councillor, Imtiyaz Ahmed Khanday, Senior Superintendent of Police, Mohita Sharma, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Harbans Lal, CGM IRCON and other senior officers of Railways, Chief Planning Officer, Dr Kasturi Lal, and other officers of various departments were present on occasion.
During his visit to Sangaldan and Banihal, the Div Com appreciated the District Administration for taking effective measures to restore the essential services and supplies in the district. Furthermore, he impressed the departments to improve response time in rural areas to ensure minimum inconvenience to the people in such situations.
He took a detailed review of the pace of progress on the restoration of damaged roads and snow clearance work. The SE PWD briefed the Divisional Commissioner about restoration work on the roads across the district.
Dr Langer directed the PWD and PMGSY Department to ensure snow and road clearance on their respective departments’ remaining 160 km roads.
After reviewing the status of the water supply schemes of district Ramban, the Div Com directed SE Jal Shakti to ensure restoration of the remaining eight water supply schemes across the district to streamline the supply, especially in higher areas.
The Div com informed that a total of 1560 distribution transformers had been installed in the district, out of which 95 are under restoration, and directions have been issued to make these functional at the earliest.
The Div Com asked the concerned departments to ensure early restoration of roads, sufficient stocking of ration in snowbound areas, repair of healthcare services, drinking water and electricity supply.
He directed the concerned officers to monitor the situation closely and ensure that the essential services are available in all areas, mainly rural and hilly areas.
The Div Com also visited Banihal Qazigund Road Tunnel at Banihal and, after inspecting the control room, discussed various issues, including security, with the concerned authorities. He also visited Railway station Banihal and the truck yard established near the tunnel’s south portal.
The Div Com & ADGP Traffic also inspected the status of NH-44 and directed the National Highway Authority of India to clear the landslides on a war footing, especially at Mehar near Ramban, to restore the road fully.
The Div Com also inspected the newly constructed 50 bedded hospital building and 300 LPM Oxygen Generation Plant at Banihal and directed concerned authorities to make it functional as soon as possible to facilitate the locals.
The Div Com visited Power Receiving Station Sangaldan and Daiwa-Budhan Road and took stock of progress on snow clearance of all link roads.
While interacting with the PRIs and locals in Sangaldan, the Div Com enquired about essential services and supplies, especially Ration Supplies. The delegations put for their demands for their resolution. The delegations demanded early completion of Higher Secondary School raod dalwa, Snow cutters for sub-Division Gool and Banihal, Black toping in Sangaldan market and other issues of public concern.
The Div Com passed directions to the concerned officers to resolve all the genuine demands on priority. He asked DC Ramban to project requisition of snow cutter machinery to concerned authorities.
The Div Com also inspected Railway Station Yard at Sangaldan and took stock of the progress. In addition, senior officials of IRCON & KRCL briefed the Div Com regarding key milestones of this project of National importance.
The DDC Chairperson highlighted various issues, and Div Com passed on the spot directions to the concerned officer to take necessary action.
The demand for establishing a bus stand at a new identified place and car parking and related issues was also projected.
The Div Com also chaired a review meeting at Banihal and took stock of progress on major schemes, besides the status of restoration works.
During the meeting, the DC gave a brief on measures taken by the administration to expedite the restoration works across the district.
Dr Langer stressed on the officers /Officials to ensure their presence at their respective Stations / Headquarters because of the snow season so that any untoward situation can be dealt with effectively.
