19K trucks carrying essentials reached valley in 24 days: Min

Despite the continuing unrest in the Valley, the Jammu and Kashmir government today said 19,000 trucks carrying essential commodities reached there in the last 24 days.

"On a daily basis, around 800 trucks carrying essential commodities reach the Valley and till yesterday, around 19,000 of those had reached Kashmir," Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA) Choudhary Zulfikar Ali told a review meeting here, adding that his department has ensured smooth distribution of the supplies.

"Irrespective of the weather or the political situation, our employees have done their duty," he said and requested the people to ensure that FCS&CA vehicles were allowed free movement.
 

The minister also directed the agencies concerned to ensure that stocks of essential supplies were maintained.

Quoting figures, a spokesman said 60,270 quintals of wheat and 4,65,200 quintals of rice were available at the Food Corporation of India (FCI) godowns in the Valley and the stock of petrol could last up to 60 days.

He said for July, FCS&CA has distributed 4,37,607 quintals of foodgrains as against the allotment of 4,66,541 quintals.

"For the current month, so far, the department has lifted 2,07,431 quintals of foodgrains from the FCI godowns out of which, 1,10,772 quintals have already been distributed," the spokesman said.

Against the monthly requirement of four lakh LPG cylinders, he said around 3,27,000 were distributed in July.

Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) supplied 1,84,638 cylinders in July and for the current month, it has so far distributed 87,288 of them, he said.

Besides, Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) distributed more than 98,000 cylinders in July, while Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) distributed more than 11,500, the spokesman said. In the current month, 1,39,008 LPG cylinders have been distributed so far in the Valley.

As regards the poultry stock, he said around 15 lakh birds were available whereas the daily consumption was around 1,20,000 birds.

"The local production is around 75,000 while the rest is managed from imports," the spokesman said, adding that the minister also sought an update on the availability of mutton and milk in the Valley and was assured that there was no shortage of the two commodities.