Srinagar, Dec 24 (Reporter) In order to ensure smooth and uninterrupted delivery of essential services and functioning of vital installations across the Kashmir Division, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday chaired a high-level meeting here and directed departments to gear up for the winter adversity. The Chief Minister emphasized the need for a robust mechanism to minimize public inconvenience during severe weather conditions. Omar stressed the importance of keeping men and machinery in a state of readiness to ensure the routine functioning of essential installations. He directed departments to prioritize uninterrupted trade, transport, and essential supplies while addressing disruptions caused by snow, waterlogging, or power outages. The Chief Minister also engaged with Deputy Commissioners to assess district-level preparedness and urged them to prioritize timely and effective responses to weather-related challenges. On snow clearance, he was briefed that a sufficient number of hi-tech snow clearance machines have been deployed by the R&B Department, SMC, MED, BRO, and NHAI, with additional machines on standby to handle heavy snowfall. The Chief Minister instructed the concerned authorities to focus on clearing key routes, including inter-district highways and roads leading to hospitals, power grids, water supply systems, and fire and emergency services. The meeting was informed that adequate stocks of ration, petrol, diesel, and LPG are available to meet the needs of residents for several months. Additional provisions have been made to ensure timely distribution across districts. The Chief Minister directed for establishment of joint control rooms in all districts to handle winter-related complaints promptly. He stressed the importance of a swift response system to minimize public inconvenience and ensure seamless delivery of essential services. Reviewing the health sector’s readiness, the Chief Minister directed the Health Department to ensure adequate stocks of medicines, oxygen cylinders, and emergency supplies across all hospitals. He also emphasized maintaining functional central heating systems in healthcare facilities and ensuring the deployment of medical personnel in snowbound areas. Instructions were given for providing transport services to expecting mothers in remote and far-flung areas also. Highlighting the criticality of uninterrupted power supply during winter, the Chief Minister instructed KPDCL engineers to prioritize the restoration of electricity, particularly for essential installations. He called for the timely replacement of damaged transformers and urged for the protection of field staff with proper safety gear to prevent accidents during repair work. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah underscored the importance of maintaining road connectivity and efficient traffic management and directed agencies to deploy sufficient manpower and equipment for snow clearance on national highways, main roads, and internal routes, ensuring minimal disruption to public movement. The Chief Minister reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to the welfare and safety of the people. He assured people that the administration is fully prepared to tackle the challenges of the harsh winter and deliver essential services effectively...////...