Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA) Choudhary Zulfkar Ali today directed the concerned officers to put a strict check on illegal profiteering and hoarding practices in Valley.The Minister was speaking at a meeting held here today to review the functioning of Department of Legal Metrology.The Minister said that no one would be allowed to take advantage of present situation. The Minister instructed the officers to book the culprits and take strict action against hoarders and illegal profiteers.Expressing dismay over the reports that products like cement are getting sold at almost double price by the profiteers, the Minister directed departmental Inspectors to be proactive and ensure booking of such miscreants to put an immediate check on the menace.Mr. Zulfkar Ali also directed for effective monitoring of sale of essential commodities, including petrol and said that concerned officers should ensure that stocks of essential commodities are well maintained in State so as to avoid any kind of shortage.The Minister said that reorganization of department is the need of the hour and would soon be done.
He directed the concerned for holding monthly review meeting of Department, saying that it would go a long way in monitoring the functioning of the department and performance of the employees. The control orders issued by the Government should be enforced strictly, he maintained.The Minister appealed people to allow FCS&CA vehicles carrying essential commodities to reach their destinations without any hassle. He expressed his sadness over a recent incident wherein truck driver ferrying food-grains was injured by unknown people at Bijbehara. He said that such incidents not only bring a bad name to the State, but also cause problem to general public for whom food-grains were due to reach. He further added that due to such unfortunate incidents, the FCS&CA trucks carrying food- grain are finding hard to reach various destinations like Kupwara district.Lauding the efforts of FCS&CA employees for delivering their duties despite the tough situation, the Minister said the good work of the department is receiving appreciation from all quarters.