Though freezing temperatures started haunting valley people this year almost a month before the commencement of winter but the decades old experiences of winter in Kashmir show that real challenges begin with the commencement of the harshest period called “Chillai-Kalan” , be it the hassle free power supply or snow clearance operations for restoration of traffic after snowfalls on valley roads. The Chief Secretary Attal Dulloo who was recently on his maiden visit to Kashmir after taking over the highest office of the civilian administration could now review the arrangements put in place by the Divisional Administration in Srinagar to mitigate the sufferings of people during winter in Kashmir. Knowing that winter preparedness in not all about the claims of the officials about their readiness to face the challenges of winter during it’s harshest period called “Chillai-Kalan”, but it is really all about the decisions government implements to mitigate the sufferings of the people during the harshest chilly season of winter the 40 day old “Chillai-Kalan” which has just commenced. Experiences of yesteryears show that when it comes to fighting challenges of snow clearance and restoration of power in mid-winter in Kashmir valley, the operational preparedness of the government collapses under few inches of snow. However this year’s winter preparedness could be different from the implementation of winter action plans of the past as huge public uproar over the violation of power cut schedules announced recently even before mid November this year finally prompted the Government to take corrective measures which led to remarkable improvement in the power distribution system in Kashmir valley much before the commencement of “Chillai-Kalan”. Government’s decision to purchase power from the Northern Power Grid Corporation Of India to reduce increasing demand-supply gaps has finally improved the power distribution system in Kashmir. Though it is an irrefutable fact that the recent actions of the Government have undoubtedly brought about perceptible change in the power distribution scenario ahead of the commencement of 40 day long harshest season of “Chilla-i-Kalan” in Kashmir but some more steps if not taken for maintaining the power supply during winter in Kashmir could put consumers to lot of inconveniences in mid “Chillai-Kalan”. Not only power availability but hassle free availability of essential commodities in presence of unprecedented hike in the prices of some of the commodities and virtual suspension of market checking operations by Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA) Department is also another worry that has already started haunting the people in valley as usual.
“The attention of the Chief Secretary who recently was on his maiden visit to Srinagar after taking over the highest office of the civilian administration could however lead to revival of the good old practice of market inspection for the purposes of the regulation of the prices of vegetables, fruits, meat and poultry products including chicken and eggs in Valley markets. Action plans for winter preparedness if implemented with a constant vigil over them from the office of Chief Secretary would surely bring respite to people during winter in Kashmir as by pursuing such a policy Government would hopefully identify the lapses and plug the holes well in advance.”
Since market checking teams of FCSA &CA Department have stopped inspecting even vegetable and fruit markets in Srinagar since last one year, there is no word from the Government on revival of good old practice of market checking to bring stability in the prices of essential commodities during winter in Kashmir. When market inspections are not conducted even in Srinagar city not to talk of towns and villages, the people don’t expect immediate revival of the good old practice of market inspections during winter in Kashmir. The attention of the Chief Secretary presently who recently was on his maiden visit to Srinagar after taking over the highest office of the civilian administration could lead to revival of the good old practice of market inspection for the purposes of the regulation of the prices of vegetables, fruits, meat and poultry products including chicken and eggs in Valley markets. Action plans for winter preparedness if implemented with a constant vigil over them from the office of Chief Secretary would surely bring respite to people during winter in Kashmir as by pursuing such a policy Government would hopefully identify the lapses and plug the holes well in advance.
