KL NEWS NETWORK
SRINAGAR
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, Monday 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 as otherwise the government will have to rethink over their dealings with them, an official spokesperson said this evening.
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 and Acts of the department aimed at protection of consumers rights.
Zulfkar exhorted upon the need of strong synergy among FCI and CA&PD Department for timely implementation of end-to-end computerization. He called for organizing of awareness camps for the consumers regarding consumer rights like DBTL, Home delivery of LPG etc.
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.
