By IANS,
Jammu : After spending three days monitoring restoration of electricity in the Kashmir Valley, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Monday visited the mountainous areas of Jammu region, worst affected by the snowfall last weekend.
Omar flew from the Valley to Doda, Kishtwar and Bhaderwah, the waters of which areas contribute the maximum to power generation in Jammu and Kashmir but are the most power-starved.
Chenab river on which the prestigious Dul Hasti, Baglihar and Salal hydro-electric projects are located passes through Kishtwar and Doda, while Bhaderwah’s Neeru stream is one of the tributaries of the river.
These areas are remote and have no access to basic amenities at many places. Most of these areas do not have power for days together, and some places have not got even electricity and drinking water.
The chief minister visited Doda, Kishtwar and Bhaderwah “to review the restoration of essential public services that have been disrupted by the heavy snowfall”, a state government release said Monday.
“The chief minister interacted with people and the district administration to receive first hand appraisal of the measures put in place for restoration of power, snow clearance from roads and functioning of water supply schemes,” a spokesman said in the release.
The spokesman quoted Omar as saying: “We have geared up the administration at all levels to be alert to face the challenges of inclement weather.”
He said that attention has been focused on early resumption of power supply and clearance of roads.
The spokesman claimed that the chief minister was told by officers of the areas that “major roads have been made traffic-worthy and snow clearance work in interior and link roads is on. The water supply has been restored and essential commodities are available at the ration depots”.