The state government has taken concrete steps to control inflation, for which, the department has issued a Control Order so that the hoarders and black marketers can’t store the essential commodities above the quantity specified by the department.Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Zulfkar Ali stated this while reviewing the supply and stock position, allocation, lifting and transportation of food grains in a meeting of officers of the concerned department at Civil Secretariat Complex in Jammu.The Minister said that no wholesaler should store more than 800 quintal pulses, 600 quintal onions and 12,000 liter edible oil. “Strict action would be taken against those indulging in hoarding or black marketing,” he added.The Minister directed the officers of the department to ensure distribution of ration to the beneficiaries by 15th of every month. The Assistant Directors should ensure that the consumers get ration under both the schemes (NFSA & MMSFES) together at the same time so that the consumers do not face inconvenience for taking the ration separately under these schemes, he added.
The Assistant Director (Trade & Stores) was directed to allocate the ration in all the districts after deducting the opening balance of the respective districts.The Minister informed in the meeting that the distribution of ration under NFSA and MMSFES will be done in one go for three months and distribution will be done in Kishtwar, Ramban and Doda districts in the months of October, January, April and July every year while in districts Reasi, Rajouri and Poonch distribution will be done in November, February, May and August every year. Kathua, Samba, Jammu and Udhampur would get ration in the month of December, March, June and September every year.
The Minister further said that the dealers should submit their remittances to the department for obtaining the ration before 5th of every month.
Otherwise, the department will supply ration to the consumers directly, he added.Zulfkar directed the officers to distribute ration cards among the beneficiaries before August 15, 2016 and ensure that LPG cylinders reach every beneficiary at its doorstep through effective home delivery system.
Earlier, the Minister also chaired a meeting of offices of Legal Metrology Department (LMD) to assess the physical and financial achievements of the department related to market checks, revenue realisation and traders booked for violation of enforcement rules.The Minister directed the inspectors of Legal Metrology Department to check accuracy of weighing scales at jewellery shops, banks and post offices, besides conducting regular market checks. He further said that Jammu division should be divided in three LMD ranges and the Deputy Controller should be the Incharge of the Range.
Zulfkar directed the Assistant Controllers to make a list of beneficiaries of LPG connection holders of their respective districts and submit a report in this regard and the department should ensure that those who are taking subsidy on LPG cylinders don’t take kerosene oil, he added. He instructed the officers of the department to launch intensive awareness campaign for educating the masses about the LPG home delivery system and ensure that the oil companies don’t indulge in anti consumer practices. The process of identifying the land for constructing Food Testing Laboratories should be expedited, he stressed.The Minister directed the officers of National Informatics Centre (NIC) to make separate websites of LMD department for Jammu and Kashmir division respectively.Later, training was also imparted to the Assistant Directors and Tehsil Supply Officers for starting online allocation of food grains through Food & Essential Commodities Assurance & Security Target (FEAST). Director, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, GS Chib, Joint Director, Mansoor Aslam, Joint Controller, Legal Metrology Department Amar Singh, Deputy Controller LMD Manoj Prabhakar, Legal Metrology Assistant Controllers and Deputy Controllers were present in the meeting.