Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 3: While 115 new fair price shops licenses were issued in Rajouri district, in Samba, Udhampur, Kargil, Leh and Ganderbal, not even a single has been issued by the Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumers Affairs.
In a written reply to a question of NC member Qaiser Lone in the Upper House today, the Minister for FCS&PD, Ch Zulfkar Ali while giving detail of newly established fair price shops in the State said that 115 such shops have been established in district Rajouri, one each in Doda, Ramban, Kishtwar, not even single so far in Samba, Udhampur, 2 in Poonch, 8 in Reasi, 11 in Jammu and 71 in Kathua of Jammu region.
He further disclosed that in Kashmir region, 162 such shops have been sanctioned is Srinagar, 121 in Anantnag, 54 in Baramulla, 47 in Bandipora, 16 in Kulgam, 51 in Shopian, 86 in Pulwama and 195 in Budgam district. He also mentioned about 4388 new locations have been sanctioned for opening new shops. In Kargil and Leh besides Ganderbal new shops have yet to be sanctioned. The Minister claimed that for this the department has adopted a criteria and also for the selection of the Salesman as well.
In response to another question of BJP member, Vikram Randhawa, the Minister informed the House that five kg food grains per soul are being provided under PHH and NPHH category under National Food Security Act (NFSA), while as 35 kg per ration is being provided in case of AAY category at highly subsidized rates.
He further said that before NFSA, the ration was being provided in Jammu/Kashmir division as per census 2001 at the scale of 35 kg per RT viz. APL, BPL and AAY.
Ali informed that the annual expenditure borne by the State includes cost price of Rs 69790.60 lakh in 2014-15, Rs 80283.17 lakh in 2015-16, Rs 74089.47 lakh in 2016-17 and Rs 41697.08 lakh in 2017-18.
He added that the annual expenditure on handling charges include Rs 24975.96 lakh in 2014-15, Rs 27313 lakh in 2015-16, Rs 20338.77 lakh in 2016-17 and Rs 8352.44 lakh in 2017-18.
The BJP MLC pressed that question be deferred as the Minister has not given satisfactory reply. He claimed that Minister was silent on monthly subsidy component of an average family on account of ration to different categories. There is no transparency. The minister however, assured to provide full details to him.
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