Excelsior Correspondent
Jammu, Mar 11: Expressing concern over derailing of CAPD Department during past 2 months, former Minister for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Department Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali has approached Governor demanding inquiry into the non supply of additional ration for the month of December and January besides reasons about supply of 100% wheat instead of flour to the State of Jammu & Kashmir.
In his 5 page letter addressed to Governor, Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali said that the Department violated Cabinet decision regarding supply of foodgrains to the consumers as per Census 2011 till implementation of NFSA. He said that the Department has failed to provide additional quota of ration as per Census 2011 for the month of December 2015 and January 2016. He added that officers of department have written letters to higher authorities authenticating the non supply of this ration and Deputy Commissioners are also aware about the same. He questioned ‘Where goes the additional ration of these two months?’ and demanded investigation into the matter.
Putting question mark on the non supply of flour, Zulfkar said that the department violated own order No 56- CAPD- 15 which says that the State has to procure 40 percent of wheat and 60 percent of flour. He questioned that why Department has procured 100 wheat and why people have been deprived of flour.
Questioning dilly dallying tactics of Department over non tendering of sugar contract, Zulfkar said that State will face acute shortage of sugar in near future as the tenders have not been allotted to any firm. He said that the process is being delayed time and again due to reason better known to Governor Administration. He said that although simple tenders but not e-tenders were floated but the same tenders were not opened since Feb 4, 2016 and continuous delay in the process is going to create sugar crises in near future.
Former Minister has also take up the matter of review of NFSA demanding fixation of ration scale to the family having below 6 members. He wrote to Governor that previous Government was thinking about to review the decision on scale of ration provided under NFSA but same could be done due to imposition of Governor rule. He said that keeping in view public opinion and special status of J&K, NFSA can be reviewed and minimum scale can be fixed in order to sort out the problems of the people. He also questioned bifurcation and trifurcation of families without any Government order.
He also took up the matter of Carriage Commission of Dealers with Governor saying that it was required to decide before implementation of NFSA. Violation of own Circular No 01- CAPD of 2016 dated 17-02-2016 was also taken up. He said that in order to ensure transparency in distribution, no videography and photography were held at any place and maximum points in guidelines framed under this circular have not been implemented on ground.
Expressing concern over short supply of 2500 MT ration in February, he said that Centre had assured 63500 MT per month but state was given 61000 MT which is 2500 MT less than the assured one.