SHIMLA 22 January 2012 : National Highway-22 which remained closed for traffic due to heavy snowfall in upper Shimla region has been re-opened for the heavy vehicles. The traffic has also been restored on all the major roads of Shimla district and power and water supply has also been made normal. Adequate supply of essential commodities and LPG has been ensured including in far flung areas of the district. This was disclosed by Horticulture Minister, Shri Narender Bragta after holding a meeting with higher authorities here today to review the arrangements and restoration of essential commodities supply in the district after snowfall.
He said that the repeated spells of snowfall were causing hindrance in normal vehicular movement but State Government had alerted the authorities not to let loose in it.
It was informed in the meeting that Rajgarh-Haripurdhar, Renuka-Haripurdhar and Shilai-Haripurdhar roads in Sirmaur district have been opened for plying vehicles. Snow has also been cleared from other major roads in the district.
Shri Bragta directed the Transport Department to start HRTC bus services on the roads which had so far been opened by the PWD. He also directed to run ‘feeder Vehicles’ on frost prone and slippery roads like Fagu-Kufri, Narkanda and Kharapathar.
It was also informed in the meeting that water supply was normal in Shimla city and most of the affected water supply schemes have been restored in the district. They also informed that the work on laying of water pipeline in Sanjauli would be completed in next two days.
Horticulture Minister directed the Electricity Department to ensure uninterrupted power supply in the district and repair the 66 KV transformer in Samarkot of Rohru Sub Division on priority basis so that power supply could be restored in the area at the earliest.
He also asked the State Civil Supplies Department to make all essential arrangements available to normal supply of essential commodities and LPG in the district. He said that essential commodities, LPG and kerosene oil was also being reached to interior areas. He directed the district administration to store the essential items in the far flung areas so the people did not have to face any problem in case of more snowfall in coming days.
Shri N.L. Sharma, Engineer-in Chief, PWD, Shri Sonam Negi, Chief Engineer, NH, Shri R.K. Sharma, Engineer-in Chief, IPH Department, Shri Sonal Agnihotri, S.P., Shimla and senior officers of various other department were present in the meeting.
