Ensure sugar distribution before Diwali: Zulfkar to officers

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 16: Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs and Information, Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali, today directed the officers of the department to distribute sugar among the beneficiaries before the festival of Diwali.
The Minister issued these directions while inspecting Central Food Store near University of Jammu.
“The beneficiaries in Jammu province should get their sugar quota before the occasion of Diwali,” the Minister said, adding that the labourers working with the department should get their wages in time.
He further directed the officers to immediately take up the renovation work of the godowns lying defunct in the store and display an inventory of the material available in the store.
The Minister enquired about the status of stock position, lifting and transportation of food grains from the store and directed Assistant Director, Trade and Stores to maintain adequate stock in the food stores and work in close coordination with the TSOs for distribution of ration among the consumers on time.
During surprise inspection to the office of Assistant Director (Mills) in Nehru Market, the Minister placed a Senior Assistant, FCS&CA under suspension for dereliction of duty. The Minister also asked the officers about the status of food grains available in the mills and directed for submitting month-wise detailed report about supply and lifting position from the mills.
He further directed for conducting regular inspections to the mills for checking the hygienic conditions and maintaining transparency in the system.
The Minister also visited the Directorate of FCS&CA Complex at Ware House and directed the Assistant Directors, City-I, City-II and Trade and Stores to immediately shift their offices in the Complex.
Later, the Minister visited Directorate Office, Trikuta Nagar and checked the overall functioning of the office.
The Minister directed the concerned Assistant Directors to conduct physical verification of all the food stores in Jammu and submit a comprehensive report to his office informing about the shortage, allocation and lifting status of food grains in the stores.
Director, FCS&CA R.A Inqalabi, Joint Director, FCS&CA Mansoor Aslam, Joint Director, Legal Metrology V.S Sambyal, Deputy Director, Legal Metrology Manoj Prabhakar, Assistant Directors and other officers accompanied the Minister during the visit.