Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, July 14: Centre today said it will allocate extra 2,000 quintals of foodgrains to Jammu and Kashmir for Amarnath Yatra pilgrims after the State Government submits pending Utilisation Certificates.
“We are ready to give extra foodgrains. Submit pending utilisation certificates (UCs), we will release foodgrains immediately,” Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan told reporters.
The issue was discussed in a meeting with State Food Minister Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali here.
Ali said, “We have demanded 2,000 quintals of additional grains for Yatra. The
Government has assured that it will supply provided pending UCs are submitted. We will do that.”
Meanwhile, Centre will examine Jammu and Kashmir’s demand for allocation of extra 4.30 lakh tonnes of foodgrains at lower rates for implementation of a newly launched State programme, Paswan said.
The State Government had recently launched Mufti Mohammad Sayeed Food Entitlement Scheme under which 5 kg foodgrains are distributed to each ration card holder over and above the current entitlement under the National Food Security Act (NFSA).
The issue was discussed in detail during a two-hour long meeting with the State Food Minister Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali and other senior officials here.
Paswan said, “J&K has demanded additional foodgrains of 4.30 lakh tonnes at APL rates (i.e. At Rs 6.10/kg wheat and Rs 8.30/kg rice) for its newly launched food scheme. We will examine their demand. It is a policy issue which we will keep it before the Cabinet.”
Pressing for enhancement of storage capacity in the State, Zulfkar Ali pressed for central assistance for increasing the storage facility and setting up of SILOS at Khanbal Anantnag, Lethpora Pulwama, Srinagar, Baramulla, Kupwara, Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts. He further projected construction of FCI godowns at Reasi, Ramban and Marwah, Warwan in Jammu division. The Union Minister directed FCI and Consumer Affairs Department to examine the feasibility for establishment of SILOS in J&K.
Demanding funding for End to End Computerization to the State of J&K on 90:10 basis, CAPD Minister said that in order to bring the transparency in the public distribution system and to check pilferage, implementation of e-PDS project is necessary.
Taking up the matter of shifting of godowns from congested city area of Shaheed Gunj Srinagar, Zulfkar brought into the notice of Paswan that 4 godowns, 2 at Gulab Bagh (Shaheed Gunj), Srinagar and 2 at Lethapora (Pulwama) are under the possession of FCI for the last about 30 years. He said that State Government is contemplating to shift the godowns from Gulab Bagh Shaheed Gunj to outskirts as the godowns are in the heart of the City. He pressed for issuing instructions to FCI to identify some location outside Srinagar City for construction of godowns at their own level.
Projecting the demand of supply of advanced 3 months ration to the State, the Minister said that due to tough terrain and unique topography of J&K, the State is facing trouble in supplying ration every month in the far flung areas and urged Centre to help resolve the issue.
He expressed dissatisfaction over poor lifting of FCI particularly at FSD Mir Bazaar, Gulab Bagh, Kralahar Baramulla and Lethapora. He said that there is need to improve efficiency of dispatches by FCI in J&K.
Demanding establishment of Quality Control Lab in J&K, Zulfkar said that there is no laboratory facility for testing the quality of foodgrains and other commodities available in Jammu and Kashmir.
Demanding infrastructure for Legal Metrology Department, Zulfkar said that J&K is in dire need of Central Assistance on priority basis for compensating the loss incurred to laboratories, equipments, building and enforcement vehicles due to devastating floods occurred during September 2014.
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