Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Apr 22: The ration depots have gone dry and many of them are lying closed for the last about three weeks as cash starved Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Department has failed to lift food-quota from the Food Corporation of India, leaving public in the entire State high and dry.
The first month (April) of this financial year is almost over, but the rice, `atta’ and even the levy sugar is not available to the consumers in the Government ration depot. The people are forced to purchase the ration from the open market on exhorbitant rates.
The reports from Kathua, Udhampur, Doda, Rajouri, Reasi and many parts of Kashmir said that majority of the people, especially from the hilly and mountainous region are dependent on the ration quota from the Government outlets as there is not much scope of agriculture produce there. In hilly areas of Bani, Basohli and Billawar in Kathua, Ramnagar, Dudu- Basantgarh and Chenani area of Udhampur and Budhal- Kandi and Kalakote areas of Rajouri and Mahore-Chasana area of Reasi besides Doda, Kupwara, parts of Anantnag and Baramulla, much problem is being experienced by the public.
Sources in the CAPD Department said that there was not much problem regarding BPL quota in the State as the department has procured six months’ advance quota of this category due to unknown reasons. It said that due to this unbalanced act, the problem has erupted.
The APL category consumers have now been left high and dry for no fault of theirs. There was no rice quota at all while even during these Holy `Navratras’, no necessary sugar quota was made available to the consumer. The consumers alleged that this perhaps has happened for the first time that Government has been witnessed so helpless or un-concerned to provide essential commodity to the public.
Minister for Consumer Affairs and Public distribution Ch Mohd Ramzan when contacted admitted that due to non-availability of sufficient funds with the department this month, the problem has been experienced. He said that by March ending all the funds had been exhausted and due to passage of Budget and some delay caused in release of funds, the department could not lift the public quota of ration. He however, said that some funds have been released by the department now and the lifting process has begun. The public will have no problem within next couple of days, he added.
Replying to another question, Mr Ramzan said this has not happened for the first time, as similar problem is faced every year in the month of April. When asked what was the solution to over come this problem, the minister said it all depends on the availability of advance money because, FCI has refused to supply food grains on credit. Earlier, it used to provide food grains to State on credit also but it has stopped this practice. It indicates that problem will continue even in future during the month of April for the consumers.
Director CAPD Jammu G S Chib when contacted said that due to delay in transfer of funds from Government Treasuries, the department was facing this issue. Chib said, “We could not lift food grains and sugar as we had to deposit money with the FCI in advance and there is specific time limit for it. There is no credit system available now with the FCI and the public suffered for the last two to three weeks. Funds to the tune of Rs 4 crore have been released now for immediate purchase of food grains and some more are in the pipeline. There was liability of Rs 29 crore on the department which is needed to be cleared. Moreover, for lifting full quota of ration more funds are required.”
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