Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali today held a meeting with Deputy Commissioners of Pulwama and Shopian to review stock and supply position of essentials in the twin districts of South Kashmir.The Minister took a detailed review of the stocks and supply position of Flour, Rice, Wheat, Sugar, Kerosene Oil, LPG and petroleum products.He exhorted upon the Deputy Commissioners to ensure convenience of consumers by way of making available essential commodities and their timely distribution. He directed the concerned officials for advance stocking of food grains, sugar, kerosene and LPG in the districts to avoid inconvenience to the rationees.The Deputy Commissioners apprised the Minister that sufficient stock of essential commodities is available, which is being distributed to the consumers regularly. They informed the Minister that there is no shortage of essential commodities in Pulwama or Shopian, where dumping of stocks has been made by the Department in advance.Giving brief account of stock and supply position of essential commodities, DC Pulwama informed the meeting that 38355 quintals of Rice and 2773 quintals of Sugar have been lifted and 100 percent target has been achieved in September.
He said adequate supply of K.Oil, Sugar and LPG is available to cater to the needs of the consumers.The DC Shopian said that 13425 quintals of Rice under NFSA and 5500 quintals of rice under MMSFES have been lifted and distributed among the consumers. He said the district is facing shortfall of 900 quintals of Sugar, which the Minister assured will be supplied within next two days. However, the DC said that there is no shortage of LPG in the district.The Minister directed for proper monitoring of the distribution of ration and other essential commodities under Public Distribution System and asked the concerned officers to conduct regular market checking to keep a check on overcharging, profiteering and other malpractices.He also directed the concerned officers to expedite the process of distribution of ration cards in both the districts, besides rationalising stock of food grains.