Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 20: There is a lot of public outcry in Kandi belt of Jammu region as Government has decreased the monthly quota of ration from this month to the families falling under Above Poverty Line (APL).
Though the issue has been taken up by the public representatives with the Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) Department authorities, they failed to redress the problem by releasing the full quota of ration to the people in Kandi belt.
Expressing his serious concern over the problem MLA Raipur –Damana, Bharat Bushan alias Bodhi said that in case the full quota of ration was not released in Kandi belt the people will be forced to come to streets and launch a massive agitation.
He said no satisfactory reply is being given by Director CAPD who said that the quota of ration in Kandi belt has not been reduced while the facts are otherwise.
For last three months they have started reducing the supply of ration by and by and now about 30 percent of ration was reduced.
Bushan said two to three quintals of ration are given less to every dealer in Kandi belt despite the fact that the department had earlier decreased the quota last year too.
He said moreover, the large families having 10 or more members are also given 10 kgs of flour which does not suffice them. Despite the repeated pleas to the authorities they have failed to bifurcate the larger families, he added.
He said even there is shortage of ration and the dealers who have deposited the money on first of this month have not been provided full supply of the month till date.
When contacted Assistant Director CAPD, Rural, said that the quota of ration has been reduced in kandi belt by bringing it at par with other rural areas.
He said Jammu rural belt was distributed in two rural zones i.e Zone One and Zone Two. The Kandi belt falling in Zone One was earlier given more ration while the Zone Two which comprises of fertile area was given less ration. To bring both the zones at par with each other so far as supply of ration is concerned, this decision was taken by the Department and the supply of ration per family in kandi belt was reduced from 18 kgs to 13 kgs, he added.
Admitting that there was shortage of ration and supply has not reached to some depots, he said the demand of ration has constantly increased which resulted into shortage.
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