Anantnag 29 April (KNB): Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Baseer Ahmad Khan on Thursday chaired a series of meetings with officers, PRI/ULB members, traders and transporter’s associations, religious leaders of Anantnag & Kulgam districts at Dak Banglow Khanabal to take stock of Covid mitigation efforts, besides the modalities that need to be put in place to tackle the pandemic in the twin districts.
As per a statement issued to news agency Kashmir News Bureau, Khan impressed upon the officers to implement the Covid guidelines in letter and spirit while ensuring that basic services like food, water, medicine etc are provided to the people uninterruptedly.
He called for greater and active involvement of Panchayat Raj Institutions, Urban Local Bodies members, local Auqaf committees and religious leaders in this regard.
Advisor directed the officers to ensure that all target groups besides employees, bankers, traders etc, where chances of virus exposure are more, get vaccinated in nearest future.
He further directed to fumigate and sanitize the offices, banks, ATMs and market places where people to people interaction is more.
Khan directed for creation of dedicated control rooms at District, Sub-division & Block levels headed by senior officers and manned by officials of line departments so that the medical emergencies besides public grievances are addressed in real time.
Advisor exhorted for ensuring that wage employment programmes like MGNREGA and agricultural operations go smoothly with adherence to Covid SOPs, adding the government is taking calibrated measures for saving both lives and livelihoods together.
Highlighting the importance of Information Education and Communication activities for mitigating the infections, he asked the officers to rope in PRI/ULB members, religious leaders and committees at micro level in this regard.
Khan stressed for augmenting and readying the health infrastructure, besides preparing a meticulous and actionable plan to address any medical exigency.
He asked both the Deputy Commissioners to have resources assessment done in terms of infrastructure, Oxygen availability, bed capacity, ventilators and man power.
He advised them to augment the bed capacity and other infrastructure to be ready for any spike in covid positive cases. He stressed to ensure new oxygen plants are put to trial immediately and within next two to three days these plants be made operational.
The Advisor directed the Deputy Commissioners to conceptualise plans for efficient vaccination, management of containment zones, movement of people, food and supplies, medicine, emergencies, avenues of wages and other aspects that need prime focus at this stage.
He directed them to have mobile supply vans ready to suffice to the needs of people at their door steps in the containment zones.
Earlier, Deputy Commissioners Anantnag and Kulgam, Dr. Piyush Singla and Dr. Bilal Mohi-ud-din respectively informed the Advisor about their Covid management efforts besides the achievements made so far.
It was given out that Covid restrictions are being fully implemented on ground besides Covid appropriate behaviour is being exhibited by the masses.
It was further given out more than 40% and 50% target populations has been vaccinated in Anantnag & Kulgam respectively. The Advisor lauded the efforts of civil and Police administrations of both the districts for their commendable work during this unprecedented time.
Addressing the PRI/ULB members, representatives of traders, transporters and religious leaders, Baseer Khan appealed for their active cooperation to tackle the pandemic effectively.
He enjoined upon them to fulfil their responsibility in leading the society out of this deadly disease and also stressed on the traders’ and transporters’ delegations to adhere to the Covid guidelines and restrictions besides forming Adda committees and volunteer groups who will look after the implementation.
DDC Chairman Anantnag, DDC Vice Chairperson Kulgam, other Council Members of both districts, Chairman MC Anantnag, Directors of RDD and Tourism, SSP Anantnag, ACD Anantnag, CMO Anantnag, Engineers of JJM, PDD, R&B, officers from essential services departments & other concerned officers also attended the meetings.(KNB)