Minister for Consumer Affairs & Public Distribution Department and Tribal Affairs Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali today inaugurated automation of Oil Retail Outlet namely AZAD FILLING STATION and declared 100 percent automation of all Indian Oil petrol pumps in Srinagar city .Director CAPD A R War , Executive Director (CC and Branding) Indian oil, Indrajit Bose, and other officers were present on the occasion .The Minister said that the automation is beneficial to both dealers and consumers who can now get automatic records for their fuel purchases, nozzle usages, bills generated along with date and time in just a matter of seconds. Mr Zulfkar asked the Indian Oil to spread their outlets to uncovered areas of the state and also stressed upon the oil companies to streamline distribution of oil and gas in the state particularly in the winter season.
Regarding the implementation of National Food Security Act (NFSA) in Jammu and Kashmir the Minister said that it is beneficial for the people living both below and above poverty line.The Minister said 74.13 lakh persons from poor and marginalised sections of the society will be provided ration at subsidized rates -- Rs 2 per kg for atta and Rs 3 per kg for rice."Another 45 lakh people will be provided atta at Rs 8 per kg and rice at Rs 10 per kg," he said talking to the media on the sidelines of the function .The Minister dispelled the rumors that a major portion of population will be left without ration. There is no justification of protests as this is a welfare policy aimed to help people, he said.Mr Zulfkar said that a Cabinet decision was taken by the previous government in 2011 requesting Government of India to implement NFSA in Jammu and Kashmir. Previously ration was provided to people according to 2001 census figures and with the result families with 10 members were getting just 35 kilos of rice. Now under NFSA, the same family will get 50 kilos of rice,” said Zulfkar.