Massive pilferage in the CAPD ration supply system: Saroori

Saroori called upon CAPD Minister Chowdhary Ramzan

Jammu, Dec 19: - Senior Congress Leader and MLA Inderwal, Mr. Ghulam Mohammad Saroori while Interacting with a delegation of Congress workers from Chatroo, Thakrie, Thathri, Bhalessa and Drabshallah area said that it was endure of the government to ensure that people get adequate quantity of ration and other essentials during the winter season.

Saroori said massive pilferage in the CAPD ration supply system, delay in the delivery of quota especially in the rural and far-flung areas of the region has left thousands of hapless consumers high and dry.

Saroori said that time and again he brought the matter into the notice of concerned district administration and the district heads (ADs) of the CAPD Department, yet the problem has not been sorted out. He added that senior officers of the CAPD claimed that the Government is providing ration supply as per the projected census of 2001 and after that the census operation has not taken place. "There was gap between the supply and the public demand and there is certainly shortage of food grains at many places" Saroori said.

He said that many people from Erstwhile district Doda have telephonically informed him that thousands of rationees go high and dry in view of less quota of food grains available at the Government depots and late delivery of ration at many places beside CAPD is distributing only 27kgs of ration instead of 35kgs to each ration card holders in Chatroo tehsil of Kishtwar district. Saroori said state government earlier announced 3 month free ration to Earthquake victims, six months have passed only 2 months ration has been distributed among beneficiaries by CAPD in Tehsil Thathri, district Doda.

"Sugar quota is released mostly after 15th or 20th of every month and by then the consumers have to remain dependent on the supply from the open market. There is no adequate supply of Atta in the rural and remote areas and the consumers are left to make turns of the Government ration depots. Those residing in the hilly and mountainous regions have to track down to reach a depot for procuring food grains and ultimately, many of them leave hope", Saroori said

Saroori also personally called upon Minister for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Chowdhary Ramzan at civil Secretariat Jammu and appraised him about the problems faced by the consumers.

Ramzan gave patient hearing to the issues raised by Saroori and assured him that problems will be solved within a week time. He also stressed upon the Deputy Directors and Assistant Directors of the Department for conducting frequent tours of their areas to monitor supply position and quality of the essentials being provided to the people and warned them against any laxity.

CAPD Minister directed the concerned authorities to follow the instructions and orders of the government issued from time to time for ensuring hassle free distribution of ration to the consumers. He called for ensuring timely distribution of food grains, especially in far off and hilly areas and early submission of monthly ration requirement so that authorities could arrange requisite ration quota.

Minister also asked officials and officers of CAPD for gearing up men and machinery to make available sufficient stocks of K- Oil in these areas. He also directed for adhering to the prescribed scale of K-Oil and food grains to the consumers.