Minister for Co-operative and Ladakh Affairs Chering Dorjay, Wednesday, directed the concerned authorities to ensure transportation and supply of essential commodities, key construction material and petroleum products to border districts of Leh and Kargil in stipulated time frame in view of forthcoming winter season.The Minister gave these instructions while chairing a high level meeting of the administration to review the transportation, stock supply of essential commodities, construction material and petroleum products required in the twin districts during winter season. He also took stock of the supply position and achievements made by the concerned departments so far.The meeting was attended by Chief Executive Councillor, Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, (LAHDC) Kargil, Kachoo Ahmad ali Khan, MLA Zanskar, Syed Bakir Hussain Rizvi, MLA Kargil, Asgar Ali Karbalai, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Baseer Khan, IGP Trafic J&K, Jagjit Kumar, Secretary Cooperative Societies J&K, Bashir Ahmad, Registrar Cooperative Societies J&K, Peerzada Hafizullah, DC Leh, Dc Kargil, SE PWD, Leh/ Kargil, MD JKSRTC, MD SICOP, AEE Leh/Kargil, Deputy Director FCS&CA besides other officers of the concerned departments.
During the meeting, Minister received a brief on the requirements, stock and supply position with respect to essential commodities of food-grains, petroleum products, LPG, construction material, medicines, cement, consumer goods, timber, firewood and other material. He directed the concerned agencies not to show any slackness in the supply, dumping and carriage of essential supplies and building material to Ladakh region for the coming winter season within the stipulated time.The Minister directed for putting in place an efficient supply chain to ensure advance lifting, stocking and dumping of essentials across Ladakh region, keeping in view difficult topography of the region.“Since the area remains cut off for about six months during winter, extra efforts are required for making adequate stocking of essentials in the region for upcoming winter season in advance”, maintained the Minister.The Minister was briefed about the status of the present quota of ration lying with the district administrations. The concerned department was directed to ensure adequate supply of sugar and kerosene to meet the public demand.
The Minister instructed the MD, JK Cements, to supply cement to Leh and Kargil as per the demand projected in the proposal and instructed the authorities to ensure supply of cement directly from source to supplier to rationalize the rates.The Forest Department was also asked to supply timber to the area to match the demand of the administration and directed to establish more outlets to provide quality timber and firewood to the people as per their needs.Officials of the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation assured that they would transport adequate number of LPG cylinders to the area to meet the demand.Health and Medical Education Department was directed to keep available Critical Care Ambulances available preferably in the Zojila area to meet any eventuality.The Minister was apprised that full quota of rice, wheat and fertilizers have been dumped in various stores in both the districts by the concerned departments, while as against the total requirement of 10774 quintals of sugar 4579 quintals have been stored on various locations of both the district and supply of remaining balance to the area is in full swung.
The meeting was informed that Merchants Association Leh has stored 472000 quintals of essentials commodities and other key construction material in Leh district as against the requirement of 590000 quintals thus achieved 80% of the total target required for the winter season. Likewise the Merchants Association Kargil has dumped 391500 quintals of essential commodities and other key material in Kargil against the total requirement of 530000 quintals and the balance of 138500 quintals of such material is being dispatched to Kargil for which 1538 truck trips have been arranged.The Minister directed the Petroleum Gas Agencies to ensure supply and storage of full quota of both domestic as well as commercial gas cylinders in these hilly and border districts as early as possible. He also instructed the authorities of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department to ensure supply of full quota of kerosene oil to these districts.Expressing his dismay for zero percent achievements by the Horticulture and Sheep Husbandry Departments, the Minister took a serious note as both the departments have not even initiated supply and storage of various kinds of material pertaining to their departments in the Leh and Kargil district. Seeking an explanation from the concerned heads for showing laxity, the Minister directed them to ensure supply and storage of the material in the twin districts within one month positively.