Put in every effort to restore Panthal: JK CM Azad

Jammu, Mar 18: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has directed to immediately construct a footbridge and a motorable bridge at Panthal on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway as a short term measure to cope up with unabated land sliding phenomenon.

Mr Azad called a meeting of senior officers of Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and Beacon here last evening to stress for early restoration of National Highway for normal traffic. He asked the Beacon to put in every effort in restoring Panthal and opening National Highway for normal traffic.

The Chief Minister said as a long term and permanent measure tunneling option should be availed of in other landslide areas on National Highway.

The meeting decided trans-shifting of stranded sheep at Panthal and their transportation to valley by the divisional administration of Kashmir.

The meeting was informed that there is sufficient stock of essential commodities including foodgrains, LPG and kerosene oil in the valley. However, in order to add to buffer, from March 19, four sorties of Indian Airforce planes would be carrying 200 tonnes of essentials like milk, vegetables, eggs, kerosene oil and other commodities daily from Jammu to Srinagar.

Among others the meeting was attended by Director General BRO, Lt Gen K S Rao, Director General Beacon, Minister for R&B Gulchain Singh Charak, Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Pramod Jain and other senior officers.

UNI