A review meeting on winter preparedness was convened by CEC, Hill Council, Kargil, Feroz Ahmad Khan on October 19 at Council Secretariat.

EC, Social Welfare,  Aga Syed Mujtaba Mosavi; EC, Tourism, and Zanskar Affairs, Er Phunsog Tashi besides officers of Health, Agriculture, Horticulture, FCS&CA, Animal and Sheep Husbandry, Cooperatives, Executive Engineers of EM&RE Division and Mechanical Division, Depot Manager FCI, President Merchants’ Association Kargil and other concerned officers attended the meeting. 

Feroz Khan took stock of the availability of medicines and medical equipment especially for COVID-19 management during the winter months. Also, he took stock of the essential commodities such as food grains, kerosene oil, LPG, medicines, seeds, fertilizers, equipment, timber, firewood, hard coke for all areas of the district including Zanskar Sub Division.

Underlining the need for concrete measures to be taken to deal with the COVID-19 situation during the ensuing winter season, Feroz Khan directed concerned officers to ensure all necessary measures.

Health Department informed that as a part of the regular supply, orders have already been placed for procurement of drugs and instruments. It was further informed that 673 quintals of firewood have already been procured and dispatched to different health centres for heating purposes during the winter months. Medicine supply for Zanskar has been enhanced by 20% this year and almost 90% stocking of medicines has been completed in the Sub Division.

Talking about the status of ongoing work at the dedicated COVID-19 Hospital, Kargil it was informed that almost all required internal works have been completed while the remaining works are going on in full swing. 

CMO Kargil informed that 417 additional mega oxygen cylinders are being procured shortly while the COVID-19 Lab registration process is being completed soon in consultation with PGI Chandigarh. 4 ambulances are being procured while equipment for critical care ambulance also stands tendered.

It was further given out that work on the installation of central heating panels at Trauma Unit of District Hospital Kargil will be completed in 10 days' time. 

Executive Engineer, Mechanical Division, and the Chief Medical Officer, Kargil was directed to accelerate the pace of work on the establishment of a central heating system at CHC Chiktan and Padum.

Regarding the stocking of ration commodities, the officers of FCS &CA informed the CEC that 27,533 quintals of rice, 25,321 quintals wheat, and 1,212 kl kerosene oil has been stocked so far while the process for stocking of the remaining quota is under process.

The officers of FCI informed that against the required stocking for 15 months, one-month surplus i.e 16 months stocking has been made to ensure the satisfactory provision of ration items to consumers. 

Officers of the Cooperative Department informed that 7935 quintals of chemical fertilizers besides 5734 quintals of consumables have been procured this year till date. 

Feroz Khan instructed the officers concerned to accord priority on stocking of salt, oil, sugar, ghee, etc besides other consumable items for winter months.   

Regarding the stocking of livestock and by-products for the winter season, the officers of Animal Husbandry informed the CEC that 4 lakh eggs in the case of Kargil and 1.25 lakhs in Zanskar have already been stocked. It was further given out that medicines and firewood have also been stocked and complete bird stocking will be done by end of the current month. While stocking of cattle feed has already been completed, poultry feed will be stocked within the next one week, the officers added. 

The concerned officers were asked to work with utmost dedication and commitment to ensure the supply and stocking of all left out essential commodities in a timely manner so that people do not face any inconvenience during the winter season.

President Merchant Association, Kargil urged the CEC to extend logistic support for transportation of basic consumable items like sugar, salt, etc. to the district so that the stocking of such essentials could be ensured on a priority basis. Feroz Khan assured that an appropriate decision to this effect would be made by convening a separate meeting of the Merchants Association and the distributors/agencies with the departments of Cooperatives and FCS&CA.