Kulgam, Dec 17: The Mechanical Engineering Department (MED) in Kulgam is fully prepared for snow clearance operations this winter, with 25 machines deployed across two control rooms, officials said.
Khursheed Abdullah, Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE), MED Kulgam, told Rising Kashmir that the department will clear a total of 585 kilometers of roads this year.
“Out of 585 kilometers, 430.57 kms fall under Priority 1 and 154.66 kms under Priority 2,” he said.
Detailing the resources, the AEE added, “We have 25 machines in place, including 10 truck-mounted LPTs and 10 tractor-mounted Snow Cats. Besides, we have five emergency-based snow cutters and loaders to ensure smooth snow clearance operations across the district.”
He said that the department has established two control rooms—one at Chawalgam, Kulgam, and the other at Bathipora, D.H. Pora—to monitor and manage operations effectively.
In addition to the two control rooms, one machine is kept pre-positioned in the Kund area for effective and smooth clearance of the Kund, Waltengonard and other areas of Devsar block.
“In terms of roads, 162 roads will be cleared by MED Kulgam this season. Of these, 74 roads are in Priority 1 and 88 roads in Priority 2,” the AEE said.
He urged the public to cooperate with the department by avoiding parking vehicles on roads and refraining from dumping snow from courtyards onto cleared roads.
“If anyone notices that their road, which falls under the Mechanical Department, has not been cleared, they may contact us at any time,” he said, adding that it is further requested to the general public to remove construction and other materials dumped along the roadsides for hassle free mechanised snow clearance.
