Minister for CA&PD and Tribal Affairs Department, Ch Zulfkar Ali today asked the Transport Department to ensure availability of adequate transport facility for timely lifting and moving of food-grains to different parts of the State.
The Minister said this at a joint meeting of CA&PD and Transport Departments convened here to hash-out the issues pertaining to seasonable transportation and early dispatch of rations to different parts of the State, especially the far-flung areas.Minister for Transport Abdul Ghani Kohli was also present in the meeting.
Stressing the need for providing adequate fleet of SRTC trucks to CA&PD as and when requisitioned, the Minister said that effectual and timely distribution of food-grains to different destinations across the State is entirely dependent on efficient transportation facilities.“The officers of the concerned departments should work in close coordination and synergy to ensure adequate and timely transportation of rations to the remote and far-flung areas so that people living in these areas don’t face shortage of food-grains and other essentials,” he said and added that special focus should be on fair-weather areas and a strategy should worked out for these as well.Expressing serious concern over the damage being caused to the food-grains due to inordinate delay in availability of transportation facility, the Ministers asked the officers to explore a viable mechanism to tackle the same and come up with apt corrective measures.
Transport Minister assured the concerned that the matter would be looked into and appropriate measures would be taken to ensure timely transportation facility for carrying rations.Taking serious note of laxity of SRTC authorities, Kohli asked the concerned to be cautious in future and keep adequate fleet of trucks at the disposal of CA&PD adding that it is the responsibility of the Corporation to ensure early dispatch of rations to sale outlets for onward distribution to the consumers well in time.Regarding the liabilities of FCI, the Minister assured that CA&PD will clear all outstanding liabilities of the current fiscal within shortest possible time as the matter has been already taken up with the Finance Department.
The meeting dwelt in detail on several issues which are required to revamp the concerned departments for ensuring prompt delivery of services to the consumers.Secretary Transport, Secretary CA&PD, Director CA&PD Jammu, Director CA&PD Kashmir, M D JKSRTC besides other senior officers of line department were present in the meeting.