Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 25: The residents of various areas in North Kashmir’s Baramulla are aghast after they have again been supplied with the rice, which they said, is not consumable.
Scores of residents were compelled to return bags of their monthly ration after they found that the rice in those sealed bags was sub-standard with granules of sand mixed with it.
The areas that have complained of the sub-standard rice being distributed to them include Khawar Sheeri, Kichama, Sheeri, Audora, Fatehgadh Sheeri, Azadgung as well as several other areas.
“I received the ration in a sealed bag from a nearby store and after the bag was opened, it came to the fore that the rice was not consumable at all and returned the same to the store,” a resident from Sheeri area of Baramulla said.
A storekeeper in one of the areas who wished anonymity said that he received the supply from the FSD, Kralhar which has been getting the supply from PEG, Sangrama.
“I have so far got 35 bags of rice returned by the people who after opening the bags came to know that the rice was not as per the standard,” he said, adding that he was not sure whether the concerned authorities would accept the bags back or not.
It is to be noted here that the affairs of the FSD, Kralhar as well as PEG, Sangrama had come to the fore earlier as well where it was alleged that the old, poor quality rice was being mixed with the new and the same was being supplied to the people.
Following that, a 3-member team of Indian Grain Storage Management & Research Institute (IGMRI) as a routine inspection had also visited FSD, Kralhar and PEG, Sangrama and had taken a strong note of the quality of grains at both the stores.
When the issue was brought to the notice of the Assistant Director of Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, Baramulla, Tariq Sheikh, he said that he was not aware of any such complaint from these areas.
Follow our WhatsApp channel