Zulfkar declines to procure sub standard wheat, rice from FCI

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 13: In his commitment of ensuring quality and safe essential commodities to people of the state, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Public Distribution (CAPD) and Tribal Affairs, Choudhary Zulfkar Ali, today declined to procure sub standard wheat stock from Food Corporation of India (FCI).
The Minister took this pro-people decision while chairing a meeting with officers of Food Corporation of India (FCI) and other senior functionaries of CAPD.
“The Government rejects procurement of low-grade wheat and rice stock to keep its promise and determination for providing quality essentials to the people”, the Minister maintained.
The Minister directed FCI to immediately lift the poor quality wheat from the godown and replace it with quality stock besides ensuring supply of quality rice. He emphasized upon them to make sure that no such low grade commodities are supplied to CAPD godowns in future otherwise the Government will have to rethink over their dealings with them.
He also instructed the Director CAPD to ensure that Assistant Director CAPD will check the quality of essential commodities before receiving the consignment of wheat, rice and other essential commodities.
Regarding the issue of usage of various godowns of the department by FCI, the Minister asked FCI to vacate the godowns as the department is facing shortage of space for storage of essential commodities.
It was decided in the meeting that check posts would be executed in various districts to contain pilferage of essential commodities so that the consumers could get adequate ration supply. These check posts would be jointly managed by functionaries of FCI and CAPD Department.
The Minister exhorted upon the officers to further intensify checking and effective monitoring for strict enforcement of various laws aimed at protection of consumers rights.
The meeting was attended by Director CAPD Jammu G.S Chib, Joint Controller Metrology Department Amar Singh, Deputy Director F&R Arun Kotwal, Deputy Director Supplies CAPD Atam Dev Singh, General Manager FCI Kishore Kumar, Area Manager K. B. Koul, Manager T. R. Gupta  besides officers of CAPD Department.