Essential supplies for winter months being dispatched to Ladakh

Srinagar, Sep 25 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir Government has stepped up transportation of essential supplies to the Ladakh region before the 434-km-long Srinagar-Leh National Highway is closed for six winter months due this snowfall in November.

''We have stored thousands quintals of rice, wheat, sugar and other essential commodities and process to store more stock in twin districts of Leh and Kargil was in full swng so that the supply is sufficient for distribution till June next year,'' an official spokesman said.

He said so far 71984 quintals of wheat, 64544 quintals of rice, 9095 quintals of sugar and 22.66 lakh liters of kerosene oil have been stored at various sale depots of the twin districts.

He said priority would be accorded to transportation of essential supplies including more food-grains, construction material and petroleum products for ensuing winter season till October 10, 2007 which would suffice the districts till June 2008.

He said the authorities concerned have been directed to make every effort so that all supplies reach to the region well in time so that people of the area do not face any problem during winter months.

The government has planned to stock 3.4 lakh cylinders of LPG at Leh and Kargil for distribution among the consumers during the winter days.

He said State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) has been directed to provide necessary assistance of mobile workshop and one recovery van at Gumri, the most troubled spot on the highway, to ensure the smooth plying of transport over the Srinagar-Leh National Highway.

The spokesman said that 2205 electric pole and 488 metric tones of iron have been stocked in the two districts besides 17500 cfts of timber and 11.40 quintals of high quality seeds of various crops dumped in the two districts for distribution among the consumers.

In addition, 2 lakh eggs would be supplied by the Animal Husbandry Department to the districts for sale during the winter months.

UNI