Need to tighten the noose on black marketing: Saroori

“Re-verify ration cards in JK as lot of discrepancies are feared to have taken place” 

Srinagar, June 21: - Senior Congress legislator from Inderwal, Ghulam Mohammad Saroori today said there is need to tighten the noose on black marketing by taking stern action against the erring traders and officials.

Saroori while participating in the CAPD grants said the price control mechanism can only be strengthened in the state if black marketing on ration can be checked regularly and the department needs to take various steps to check pilferage in the public distribution system.

He stated that in one of glaring example of corruption in CAPD Department can be gauged from the fact that the families which were earlier having Below Poverty Line (BPL) ration cards are now being issued Above Poverty Line (APL) ration cards and the rich and wealthy families which were having APL ration cards are now being given BPL ration cards in utter violation of norms, which Saroori claimed as an ‘injustice’ with the poor and nomads of the state. He said there is urgent need for “re-verification of ration cards” so that the benefit could reach to the deserving people. "It's very unfortunate to know that CAPD has published ration cards in English thereby skipping the official language of J&K state”, Saroori said while showing his grave concern demanded that Ration cards must be printed in Urdu language.

"Supply of floor from Udhampur store is full of adulteration and the people are not getting nutrition's that's why our children's are facing malnutrition problem and are easily pray to vulnerable diseases", Saroori said and demanded that the pure floor be supplied from the Jammu store instead of Udhampur store.

Saroori also appreciated the efforts of CAPD Minister in lifting 100% ration from the FCI Godowns instead of 40% as alleged last year during the Assembly session that department should lift all the ration from FCI as there many complaints regarding pilferage of Food grains, adulteration of Food grains in FCI/CAPD Stores and in order to have a check on pilferage and adulteration, the lifting of 40% Food grains was demanded to stop,”. There is need that the Department should directly lift 100% food grains from the FCI Godowns from the state to stock directly in the food Godowns of the districts for onwards distribution. This way it will check the pilferage and ensure quality Food grains, Saroori further added.

He also raised many public related issues including enhancement of ration scale to 7 Kgs instead of 5 kgs per soul at the rate of Rs 2, sorted minister's direction to supply the sugar quota on the auspicious occasion of Eid-ul-fitr at the earliest, provide ration to consumers 10th of every month instead of 20^th, adjustment of dealers in government service, regularization of the services of Contractual/Daily Wagers working with the department, cancelling of license of the corrupt dealers which are involved in black-marketing which he claimed to be the biggest 'Foe' of CAPD department, clearing all the pending carriage charges including 16 crores and 17 crores of Doda and Kishtwar districts respectively and Private vehicle operators should be entrusted with the job of supplying of ration in the periphery of hill districts.

Saroori further demanded enhancement of Kerosene quota for Doda and Kishtwar districts, Opening up of stores at Block level in order to facilitate easy transportation of ration to far-flung areas, Retention of storekeeper at Bhatyas who is working honestly and strict action against the corrupt dealers, demanded opening new sale depot’s at Bunjwah, Burdhar, Saroor Cheera, Sigdi Bhata, Bhagran, SheikhPura, Kuchal, Niccha Bonda, Poora Sarthal, Upper Keshwan, Naidgam, Batwari, Sheeri Pahalgam, Kendwaar, Rahal, Kherian, Singpora and other areas of Inderwal Constituency beside setting up more LPG outlets by giving priority to those areas where there is no LPG outlets.