Nothing new in it that heavy snowfalls disrupt supply lines and delivery of public services during peak winter periods in both plain and hilly areas in Kashmir Valley and some inaccessible hilly areas of Jammu division. Though claims of preparedness by the Government to meet any eventuality that arise in the aftermath of snowfalls are quite satisfying but within hours after snowing starts the departments tasked the job of maintaining essential supplies and delivery of public services fail to deliver the job they are tasked. Snowing started Friday morning and vehicles were found dancing on the roads in Srinagar city as snow clearance machines reportedly kept in a position of preparedness for snow clearance operations by the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) were found no where visible on the roads in any part of Srinagar city. The R&B Department obliged to carry out snow clearance operations on roads connecting Summer Capital Srinagar with the district headquarters too were not seen clearing snow on any inter-district route. Starting the snow clearance operation after the snowfall stops as per the past precedences and practices doubles the troubles for both the men and machinery and as well as the people of the areas disconnected due to unprecedented delays in snow clearance operations in almost all parts of the Kashmir Valley. The delays in snow clearance operations not only are the causes of fatal road accidents on highways but are also the causes of delays in the shifting of ailing people from villages and towns to main referral hospitals of Srinagar city which in most of the cases also result in avoidable deaths of patients. Similarly the unprecedented delays in the restoration of power supplies after the snowfall disrupts the supply of water to both residential populations and as well as commercial establishments across Kashmir and usually it takes the power restoration teams days together to restore power supply in phases in cities, towns and Villages across Kashmir.
Onus of restoring supplies and services lies on Deputy Commissioners, municipal authorities of cities and towns and heads of engineering departments in districts and tehsils across Kashmir. Restoration of supplies and services has not to begun after the snowfall stop but immediately after the snowfall starts.
Restoring services in Srinagar city the summer capital is no achievement as the restoration of services in towns and villages is as important as is the restoration of supplies and services in Srinagar city. It is not the job of Lt Governor and administrative secretaries to restores supplies and services in short time after the snowfall but onus of restoring supplies and services lies on Deputy Commissioners, municipal authorities of cities and towns and heads of engineering departments in districts and tehsils across Kashmir. Restoration of supplies and services has not to begun after the snowfall stop but immediately after the snowfall starts.
