Kupwara, November 19: Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Baseer Ahmad Khan today asked officers to work with added dedication and play proactive role in smooth conduct of DDC and Panchayat by-election as the election and winter preparedness is simultaneously equally important.
The Advisor said this while reviewing election preparations and winter preparedness in a meeting here at D.C. Office Kupwara.
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, P.K. Pole; Inspector General of Police, Vijay Kumar; District Development Commissioner (DDC) Kupwara, Anshul Garg; SSP Kupwara; ADC Handwara, DDPEO were also present.
The Advisor directed the concerned officers to ensure availability of all amenities at polling stations including uninterrupted power & water supply and toilet points, besides, making proper heating arrangements at all polling stations.
He also directed for keeping ration and LPG available at polling stations wherever required. The Advisor also directed for making Snow Clearance Plan for all roads leading to polling booths in the rural as well as urban areas of the district.
The Advisor directed for making proper arrangements for accommodation of candidates, polling staff, police and security personnel.
The Advisor directed the Executive Engineer, Mechanical to dispatch required snow clearance machines at the vulnerable places instead of keeping them at district headquarter.
The Advisor also reviewed status of election preparations including location of polling stations, establishment of strong rooms, election training, deployment and return of polling staff.
The Advisor directed the SE PDD to formulate a special plan for power supply at all polling stations and ensure availability of gensets wherever necessary. He also directed Executive Engineer, PHE to provide tanker service to polling booths wherever tap water is not available.
Reviewing the winter preparedness, the Advisor directed for keeping buffer stock of transformers and poles available to combat any contingency during winter. He directed SE to strictly adhere to the power schedule and publicize the schedule well in advance so that people do not face any inconvenience with unscheduled power cuts.
The Advisor asked for conducting Rapid COVID test for employees detailed for election duty. He also urged for maintenance of COVID 19 SOPs in letter and spirit.
Divisional Commissioner in his address directed engineers of PDD, PHE, R&B to work hard and maintain coordination in providing best services to the people during winter season.
Earlier, DDC Kupwara briefed the Advisor about the election preparations and winter preparedness through PowerPoint presentation. The Advisor was informed that there are 385 panchayat halqas in the district, 14 DDC constituencies, 32 Sarpanch and 782 Panch vacant seats in the district for which 1181 polling stations have been established at 581 locations. About 5000 polling staff has been deployed for election who are being given proper election training phase wise in the district. The Advisor was further informed that in the first phase border areas of Karnah, Keran and Machill are going to poll for which special preparedness has been put in place. As many as 73 polling stations with deployment of 212 employees have been established in snow bound areas of the district.
Regarding snow clearance, the DDC informed the Advisor that Snow Clearance plan have been already put in place in the district and required machinery and manpower is also kept in the state of readiness. He said there are 722 roads comprising 2300 km road length across the district which is being looked after by Technical Division, R&B and PMGSY.
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