Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Nov 14: To ensure availability of basic facilities to people during winter and to review Youmi Ashoor arrangements, the Minister for Consumer Affairs, Public Distribution and Transport, Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan convened a high level meeting of Divisional Administration in Winter Secretariat here today.
The meeting was attended by Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Shalindra Kumar, IGP Kashmir, Commissioner Srinagar Municipal Corporation, Director CA&PD, Chief Conservator of Forests, Chief Engineer Mechanical Division Kashmir, Regional Transport Officer Kashmir, Chief Engineer PDD, Superintendent of Police Traffic, General Manager SRTC, General State Forest Corporation and other concerned officers.
Reviewing the stock and supply position of the essentials in the Valley, the Minister was informed that 3 lakh quintals of rice, 9510 quintals of floor, 1,40,000 quintals of wheat, 5273 kilo litres of kerosene oil and 3.20 lakh LPG cylinders are available in the godowns of CA&PD and various Oil Companies operating in the Valley.
While reviewing the distribution of firewood among the consumers, Ch. Ramzan was told that 18,000 quintals of firewood was distributed to the consumers besides 43,000 quintals of firewood was provided to various mosques of Srinagar city.
The Minister was told that Forest Department has fixed a target of providing 14.99 lakh cft of timber to consumers during current fiscal and the department has dumped 13.69 lakh cft of timber for this purpose so far. He was also informed that the department has provided 10.40 lakh cft of timber to consumers during the current fiscal so far.
Assessing the snow preparedness arrangements, the Minister was told that the Mechanical Engineer Department, Kashmir has kept 104 snow cutter machines available for snow clearance from all roads in Valley, besides setting up 12 Control Rooms in all districts of the Valley which have been made operation since November 7, 2013.
The Minister directed the Divisional Administration to make every effort for providing basic amenities to people during winter months. He appealed the people to register their grievances in this regard in Winter Secretariat where Ministers are available for public grievances redressal on the instruction of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
Later, the Minister met various delegations and individuals who put forth their collective and individually demands.