Fair Price Shops to be opened in all uncovered areas: Minister
Minister for Consumer Affairs & Public Distribution (CAPD) Department Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali today constituted a high-level committee of officers to check the quality of foodgrain at the Food Corporation of India (FCI) takeoff points before the same are dispatched to J&K.
Taking cognisance of the complaints regarding dumping of substandard rations in some far-flung areas of the state, the minister made it clear that there would be no compromise on the quality of rations and strict monitoring would be ensured before the lifting of foodgrain from the FCI takeoff points.
“To ensure transportation of quality rations to various parts of the state, a team of officers will conduct the quality check of the foodgrain at the FCI takeoff points,” Zulfkar said adding that this mechanism would facilitate shipment of quality rations to the state. The minister asked FCI authorities to immediately replace the poor quality rations reportedly stocked in some snow-bound areas of the state, including Warwan and Marwa in Kishtwar. He said to ensure quality of rations being supplied to consumers, directions had already been passed on for random lifting of samples from the CAPD stores for testing.
The minister directed the officers to maintain proper record of requirement and status of supply of foodgrain in every district.
Earlier, Zulfkar had a meeting with legislators of Chamb, Akhnoor, RS Pura and Bishnah to take stock of functioning of the department with emphasis on supply position of essentials in their concerned constituencies.
Taking notice of irregularities in the ration supply in Chamb and Akhnoor, he asked the officers concerned to look into the matter and work out a plan to ensure uniform scale of ration supply in these areas on a par with the urban areas. Zulfkar also asked the CAPD authorities to identify the locations requiring opening of new Fair Price Shops (FPS) in the state in consultation with the legislators concerned.
