SRINAGAR: Snow clearance was stepped up in Srinagar on Thursday when the main focus of the operation was link roads and lanes.Services of the Mechanical Engineering Department and the Public Works Department were utilised to aid efforts to clear the snow from interior roads and lanes across Srinagar. Large number of machines – including those hired – and men were involved in the massive effort.To clear link roads and lanes, the R&B Department had pressed over 110 machines – including 48 JCBs and 64 Tractors – into service. Over 900 kilometers of road length – put together – were snow-cleared in the effort.Smallers lanes where machines could not reach were cleared manually. Thousands of men were pressed into service for manual snow-clearance – these included hundreds deployed by the R&B alongside some 3000 SMC workers.The Mechanical Engineering Department carried out widening of clear corridors on main roads across Srinagar. By 6 pm, over 1100 out of 1300 kilometres of main road length were widened.Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary spent the first half of the day out on the ground monitoring snow-clearance and inspecting essential services and supplies.He visited areas across Downtown Srinagar and those in rural Srinagar including Khonmoh, Check Sangri, Zevan, Balhama, Sempora, Pandrethan, Dhara and Harwan. He also visited several areas in Chanpora and Shalteng Tehsils.Speaking on the occasion, he thanked residents of the district for their patience and cooperation with the district administration. He said most of the affected services have been restored and assured of earliest possible clearance of snow from all remaining lanes and by-lanes across the district.With regard to power scenario, it was informed that all of 36 33kV feeders and 254 out of 258 11kV feeders in the district were charged as on Thursday evening. It was informed that 10 of 6505 transformers damaged in the snowfall were being replaced.Snow-clearance and restoration of still-affected other services will continue tomorrow when most to all thereof will be targeted for coverage.
