Srinagar, Jan. 18 : The Jammu and Kashmir Government has set up its winter secretariat in Srinagar, providing major relief for the local populace.

The shift took place from Jammu and it was begun from January 13.

State Government ministers have been directed to take turns to stay in Srinagar for fifteen days at a stretch to address the day-to-day problems of the people.

"We have tried our best to make this a vibrant winter secretariat, vibrant in the sense that people are coming and we redress their grievances, regarding their day to day problems like water, electricity, roads, some injustice being done to any citizen, some complaints about salaries being not released, some development complaints and we are just calling officers on the spot, just redressing their grievances," said Ali Mohammed Sagar, the state''s Rural Development and Panchayat (local bodies) Minister.

Local people hailed the setting up of the secretariat.

"This is very beneficial for the common people especially the poor. Earlier the people had to take the trouble of going to Jammu and meeting the concerned Minister in the Secretariat. It was difficult to meet the Minister. But now, it is easy since the Minister sits here, people can directly approach him. The common people have definitely benefited," said Ghulam Hassan, a resident of Srinagar.

Though it''s beneficial for the people of Jammu and also the officials who can escape the biting cold, it''s the other way round for people of Srinagar who will have to make overnight journey to redress their grievances. (ANI)