Jammu and Kashmir government today directed the Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) department to open all the sales outlets and fair-price shops to ensure distribution of ration in the Valley.
"The field functionaries of the department are directed to open all the sales outlets and fair-price shops to ensure distribution of ration," CAPD Minister Chowdhary Zulfikar Ali said at a meeting convened here to review the stock-and-supply position of essential commodities in the Valley.
"Strict action will be taken against storekeepers, fair-price shop dealers and Tehsil Supply Officers failing to report to duty," he added.
Directing those concerned to lift the remaining stock of foodgrains from Food Corporation of India (FCI) forthwith for distribution among the outlets, the minister asked Director, CAPD, Kashmir Peerzada Mushtaq to coordinate with the FCI authorities and ensure that godowns and PEGs are functional with immediate effect.
Seeking cooperation of the people during distribution of foodgrains, Ali appealed to them to allow movement of vehicles carrying foodgrains and other essential commodities.
He also asked the field staff to coordinate with the mohalla and masjid committees and seek their assistance during distribution of ration.
Kashmir is on the boil since Friday following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter with the security forces.
Asking the Director, CAPD to maintain liaison with the divisional and district administrations to ensure availability of essential items and LPG cylinders for consumers, the minister said petrol pumps should also remain open.
Giving a brief account of the stock-and-supply position of essential commodities, Mushtaq told the meeting that about 7.8 lakh quintals of rice, 1.5 lakh quintals of wheat and 22,000 quintals of sugar are available at the FCI and department godowns.
"So far, 2.15 lakh quintals of foodgrains have been dispatched to various districts while 2.8 lakh LPG cylinders are in stocks in the Kashmir division which are sufficient for 22 days," he said, adding that 2,900 kls of petrol, 11,012 kls of diesel and 5,060 kls of kerosene oil are also available with the oil companies in Kashmir.
"The department is keeping a proper track of vehicles carrying essential commodities from Jammu to Kashmir and in the last two days, 485 trucks carrying essential items, petrol and poultry products have reached the Valley," he said.
