Uttarakhand: ACS Radha Raturi reviewed the preparations regarding cold wave, gave instructions to strengthen the system of registration of tourists coming for trekking in the state
Taking seriously the safety of the tourists coming for trekking in the state, Additional Chief Secretary Mrs. Radha Raturi has asked the DFO to strengthen the system of registration of tracking agencies and companies in Uttarakhand, make an effective tracking policy or SOP in the state and also Instructions have been given to compulsorily share information about tourists coming for trekking with the district administration and police department. He has also instructed the District Magistrates to coordinate with DFO, Tourism Department and Eco Tourism in this regard. Mrs. Radha Raturi has clarified that in case the tracking SOP is not effective on time, the Forest Department will be held directly responsible for any incident of negligence in the safety of the trackers coming to the state and action will be taken. ACS has given strict instructions to the Forest Department that along with a solid SOP for the tracking agencies, immediate arrangements for strict safety standards, insurance, trained guides, snow equipment, health certificate, basic medicine for the trackers should be implemented.
While reviewing the preparations of the administration regarding the cold wave in the state at the Secretariat, Additional Chief Secretary Mrs. Radha Raturi asked the Labor Department to immediately ensure all arrangements for protection and relief from the cold wave, especially for the needy workers living in construction sites. Instructions have been given. In view of road accidents occurring due to dense fog, ACS has specially instructed the traffic and police departments in Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar districts to be on alert mode. Along with this, he has instructed the fire department to complete all preparations to prevent fire incidents. ACS Mrs. Raturi has also given instructions in today’s meeting to create a portal to collect and distribute warm clothes to be donated to help the needy.
In the meeting, the Additional Chief Secretary directed the Public Works Department to work on new solutions along with traditional measures to maintain road connectivity, arrange for JCBs and remove frost from the roads. During this time, arrangements for lighting bonfires in public places and distribution of blankets, making arrangements for electricity, water, beds and cleanliness in temporary shelters, nominating a separate nodal officer in this regard, food supply, drinking water in all the districts, etc. And instructions were given to store fuel in sufficient quantity till the end of January and to ensure arrangements for emergency services for medical health. Secretary Dr. Ranjit Kumar Sinha along with senior officials of various departments were present in the meeting.
