Akhoon visits Pulwama takes stock of supply position

Srinagar Sep 07: To take stock of supply position of essential commodities and ensure speedy dispatches of food grains to the sale outlets to the twin districts of Pulwama and Shopian, Minister for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CA&PD) and Transport, Mr. Qamar Ali Akhoon today visited Pulwama and chaired a joint meeting of officers and public representatives of these districts. The Minister to get on the spot feedback interacted with the officers and people about the supply and availability of essential commodities through CAPD sale outlets.
While chairing a meeting of CAPD authorities to review the functioning of CA&PD department in the districts, Mr. Akhoon reiterated that providing of quality food grains to the consumers of the State is the priority of the government. He said direction have been issued to all concerned that dispatches of food grains to all sale-outlets across the State should be stocked before 15th of every month for timely distribution to the rationees.
The Minister said that the government has decided that during the holy month of Ramadhan, 50 kgs of ration would be provide per ration card to the consumers.
Mr. Akhoon said that in order to further streamline the functioning of CAPD department, on the direction of Chief Minister, Mr. Omar Abdullah, District Level Vigilance Committees were framed under the overall supervision of concerned District Development Commissioners for re-verification of Below Poverty Line (BPL) beneficiaries and to monitor and ensure timely distribution of essential commodities to the people.
The Minister said that any complaint received against any officer or official in this regard would not be tolerated and the erring official would be dealt severely.
While reviewing the stock position in these districts, the Minister was informed that against the total allocation of ration quotas of essential commodities for the month of September, district Pulwama received 33038 quintals of rice, 360 quintals of atta and 540 quintals of sugar out of which 25857 quintals of ration has been dispatched to the sale outlets.
Likewise, for district Shopian 15294 quintals of rice, 180 quintals of atta and 180 quintals of sugar has been received so far and 60% has been dispatched for sale to the sale outlets.
The Minister welcomed the suggestions of the participants in further improving the functioning of the CAPD department. He said that to ease the pressure on sale out-lets at some places, some sale centers would be opened on internal arrangements. He said that efforts are being made to evolve a mechanism to maintain transparency in the PDS.
The Minister directed for random checking of sale outlets and coupons provided for ration by the officers. He asked the dealers not to receive the ration of sub-standard.
Among others, Legislators, Mr. Mohammad Khalid Bandh, Mr. Abdul Razak Zowora, Mr. Mir Zahoor Ahmed, Mr. Mustaq Ahmed Shah, Mr. Bashir Ahmed Magray, Mr. Showkat Hussain, Secretary, CAPD, Mr. K.B.. Jandial, District Development Commissioner, Shopian, Mr. Abdul Majid Khanday, District Development Commissioner, Pulwama, Mr. Mohammad Afzal Bhat and senior officers of district administration besides prominent citizens of the two districts attended the meeting.