Jammu and Kashmir government today directed officers to ensure distribution of ration to consumers by the 15th of every month in the state.
"The officers of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs are directed to ensure distribution of ration to the beneficiaries by 15th of every month", Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Zulfkar Ali said.
He further said the dealers should submit their remittances to the department for obtaining the ration before the 5th of every month
Otherwise, the department will supply ration to the consumers directly, he added.
Zulfkar directed the officers to distribute ration cards among the beneficiaries before August 15, 2016 and ensure that LPG cylinders reach every beneficiary at their doorstep through effective home delivery system.
"The state government has taken concrete steps to control inflation, for which, the department has issued a control order so that the hoarders and black marketeers can't store the essential commodities above the quantity specified by the department", he said.
He stated this while reviewing the supply and stock position, allocation, lifting and transportation of food grains in a meeting of officers of the concerned department at Civil Secretariat Complex in Jammu.
The Minister said no wholesaler should store more than 800 quintal pulses, 600 quintal onions and 12,000 liter edible oil.
"Strict action would be taken against those indulging in hoarding or black marketing," he added.
He said the distribution of ration under food schemes will be done in one go for three months.
Distribution will be done in Kishtwar, Ramban and Doda districts in the months of October, January, April and July every year while in districts Reasi, Rajouri and Poonch distribution will be done in November, February, May and August every year.
Kathua, Samba, Jammu and Udhampur would get ration in the month of December, March, June and September every year, he said.
The Assistant Directors should ensure that consumers get ration under both the schemes together at the same time so that consumers do not face inconvenience for taking the ration separately under these schemes, he added.
Zulfkar directed the Assistant Controllers to make a list of beneficiaries of LPG connection holders of their respective districts and submit a report in this regard and the department should ensure that those who are taking subsidy on LPG cylinders don't take kerosene oil, he added.
He instructed the officers of the department to launch intensive awareness campaign for educating the masses about the LPG home delivery system and ensure that oil companies don't indulge in anti-consumer practices.
The process of identifying the land for constructing food testing laboratories should be expedited, he stressed.
