The administration of Ladakh is mulling to reopen Srinagar-Leh highway for load carreiers and tankers to replenish the essential supplies in the region.
An official said in view of the shortage of essentialcommodities in Ladakh, the administration of the mountainous region has decidedto reopen Zojila Pass which connects Srinagar with Leh.
The official said the divisional administration Ladakh haswritten to both the Deputy Commissioners of Kargil and Ganderbal and police toprepare for re-opening the road.
The administration has also ordered a Standard OperatingProcedure (SoP) for movement of trucks and tankers, carrying essentialcommodities.
“With a view to replenish essential supplies in Ladakh,trucks and tankers carrying essential commodities will be allowed to crossZojila Pass,” reads an order issued by the Divisional Commissioner Ladakh,Swagat Biswas.
“A protocol will be followed during the transition of thevehicles into Ladakh – only one driver and a helper will be allowed with eachof the loaded trucks or tankers. Any driver or helper showing symptoms ofCOVID-19 will be turned around with or without his vehicle from Meena-MargCOVID-19 check post,” reads the order.
It reads that a medical camp with screening facilities willbe established at Meena-Marg by the district administration Kargil forscreening of each of the driver and supporting staff thoroughly, besides theregistration of drivers and supporting staff indicating their permanentaddress, contact numbers, origin and destination shall be recorded by the incharge police post.
“The trucks and tankers carrying essential commodities willply in a convoy and escorted by the police and will not be allowed to haltanywhere en-route” reads the order.
Biswas said only trucks and tankers carrying essentialcommodities will be allowed to ply in coming days in view of the depletingstock of essential commodities in Ladakh.
Meanwhile people of Kashmir have urged the authorities toreconsider the decision of reopening the highway in view of the Coronavirusthreat.