People in Kashmir valley expect a good winter this year. Not because of the magnitude of the snow but they have pinned hopes on the present dispensation for some relief measures in terms of the hassle free supply of electricity and the drinking water.
Earlier, the successive regimes in J&K would convene meetings to take stock of preparedness ahead of every winter but once the snow would wrap the valley under a white blanket, the administration would never turn up to fulfill its tall claims.
Erratic power supply, dried taps, and the blocked roads have become synonymous with the winters in Kashmir. Amid such a situation, the anger and frustration among the people is obvious and the same adds to the already existing alienation among masses.
Claims of making exigency plans in addition to dumping of essential commodities to suffice the requirements of winter months in Kashmir valley often prove a hoax. Normally people witness the rising prices of essentials including vegetables and other edible items that usually come to the valley from outside J&K.
Now this year, it is heartening that the chief secretary has directed the line departments to ensure drinking water supply to the urban areas and the director of health services Kashmir is pulling up socks ahead of this winter season.
A similar preparedness needs to be ensured in the Kashmir power development corporation that usually remains in the eye of storm almost every winter. Be it erratic power cuts or frequent faults in the low transmission lines, PDCL needs to gear up to show that much has changed on the ground this time.
Similarly, the food department needs to ensure that rice and other edible essentials are stocked in adequate quantities in all ration depots and fair price shops across Kashmir valley especially in the remote areas that normally get disconnected due to snowfall.
