70 Snow Clearance Vehicles to be Deputed in Electoral Wards, 127 Mobile Dewatering Units on Stand-by Mode: SMC Commissioner

Srinagar 12 January (KNB): Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) Commissioner Gazanfar Ali said that 70 snow clearance vehicles are going to be deputed in Electoral wards and 127 mobile dewatering units, with capacities ranging from 75000 litres per hour to 7.oolac litres per hour, are on standby mode.

A statement issued to Kashmir News Bureau said that Commissioner Gazanfar Ali stated it while taking review on ward wise snow clearance today.

“He also took stock of the preparedness in the wake of fresh forecast of snowfall predicted in the valley,” officials stated.

On reviewing snow clearance, Ali was informed that 90 percent snow clearance has been done in all the wards of the city, where as the accumulated snow in different areas of the city, in lanes and by-lanes is being cleared up.

Chief sanitation officer, updating on garbage lifting said that 402 metric tones of garbage was lifted across the city today and in total 840 metric tones of garbage lifted since the weather has improved.

The Commissioner on the occasion reviewed the arrangements made for snow clearance and expressed that adequate preparedness has to be put in place in wake of fresh snowfall forecast.

Gazanfar Ali stressed, “The SMC has to put men and machinery on a standby to tackle any situation arising out of the snowfall, including dewatering.”

As per the statement, “around 4,000 officials will be pressed into service for manual clearance. The seventy snow clearance machines will be deputed and divided in all the electoral wards of SMC and made available for clearance of lanes and by-lanes besides important stretches leading to hospitals, religious places, Ration Depots and other vital institutions.”

On dewatering S.E Drainage, Ahsaan ul Haq updated that SMC Drainage circle is operating 86 permanent dewatering stations with a total capacity of 1460 cosec, besides 32 mobile dewatering pumps stands deployed in various vulnerable areas of the city to tackle water logging issues.

He further said that during recent snowfall, four additional mobile dewatering units have been deployed at different locations as per public requests for redressal of water logging issues in various areas, which including Tulsi Bagh, Eidgah, Tengoora Zoonimar, Moominabad, Tengoora , Batamaloo, Lasjhan etc.

SMC has in place regular maintenance gang to tackle any such situation, S. E Drainage further said.

As per the statement, “The review meeting was attended by Joint Commissioner Admin Syed Abul Qasim, Joint Commissioner Works Ishtiyaq Ahmed Shah, S.E Drainage Ahsaan Ul Haq, Secretary SMC Sofi Akbar, Chief Sanitation Officer Mudasir Banday, Chief Transport Officer Syed Nisar, Chief Enforcement Officer Ghulam Rasool, Purchase and Procurement Officer Shahid Asraar and other Officers.”

During the meeting, Commissioner Ali also directed to keep the Snow Control room activated, throughout snowfall days and facilitate general public constantly.

Meanwhile, it was also decided in the meeting that general public having issues related to garbage can contact Chief Sanitation Officer Mudasir Hussain Banday on 9419065735 and issues pertaining to water-logging can be contacted on SE Drainage’s contact number i.e 94190 60565.

Similarly, regarding snow clearance, people can contact Chief Transport Officer Syed Nisar on 91496 95165. (KNB)