Srinagar: Apni Party president Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Tuesday decried the preparedness of the administration that was caught napping in the wake of fresh snowfall across Kashmir Division. “Not to talk about snow clearance on roads or ensuring smooth supply of water and electricity; the administration has now debunked its own claims by ordering rationing of fuel across Kashmir division,” Bukhari observed.He said the order may be precautionary in nature but the divisional administration has created scare among people and raised a big question mark on its stock positions for tackling the winter exigencies in Kashmir.
“Snowfall is nothing new to Kashmir. But we have always witnessed that a few inches of snow buries tall claims of the administration that always boasts about its advanced preparations before the advancement of winters,” Bukhari remarked, while expressing deep concern over the plight of people in snowbound areas which are cut-off from the main town across Kashmir division.
He said there has been incessant snowfall since the last few days but the administration is yet to clear the major and link roads so as to enable the commuters a hassle free movement. “Not to talk of the rural areas or upper reaches, even many localities in the Srinagar city are inaccessible and reeling under perpetual darkness. Similarly, there is scarcity of drinking water in many districts including Srinagar which has aggravated the situation,” Bukhari remarked. He said that the electricity is playing hide and seek with the consumers and there are reports of shortage of ration, fuel and essential food commodities at many places especially in North and South Kashmir regions.
Bukhari said the plight of people living in far off places is more worrisome. “The government should immediately take stock of the situation and ensure people all effective and basic amenities in towns and far off places in Jammu and Kashmir,” he demanded. Apni Party president urged the administration to clear the snow from all roads and arterial links besides addressing the frequent curtailment of electricity supply and shortage of water supply that has further aggravated the condition of people in Kashmir. Bukhari also demanded shifting of families who live in avalanches, mudslides and snow storm prone areas like Kund and Waltengoo Nar in South Kashmir to some safer locations in view of the heavy snowfall in these areas. Bukhari exhorted the administration to rise up to exigencies of the winter and ensure the hassle free movement on roads and arterial alleys besides fixing the unscheduled cuts in power and address the water scarcity wherever required.He said the government should also make proper arrangements to facilitate easy access to the critical patients including pregnant women to the nearby hospitals across Kashmir division. “The health department should press into service all its men and machinery including ambulance services to ferry critical patients to the nearby hospitals without any procedural wrangling,” he demanded.
