Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, May 14: The consumers in the State are facing worst crisis as the CAPD department has miserably failed to ensure supply of levy sugar and regular supply of ‘Atta’ despite major public demand.
Though the supply of flour (Atta) has now been picking up in Jammu city but the consumers of many major towns like Udhampur, Kathua, Samba, Doda, Reasi and Rajouri etc are still deprived of the smooth supply of Atta. After the implementation of National Food Security Act (NFSA) in hush hush manner in the State recently, the CAPD department started the supply of wheat even in the cities in April but public refused to lift the same. After massive protests all over the State and opposition by the major political parties, the Government was forced to review its decision and agreed to supply Atta instead of wheat in the cities and towns.
While in Jammu city, the supply of Atta commenced hardly a few days back but sugar supply has been stopped. There is no hope of levy sugar supply even during the month of May and the officials in the Jammu Directorate of CAPD were tight lipped over the matter. They claimed that for levy sugar supply the people sitting at top positions in the Secretariat were responsible and answerable, moreover, they were not fully aware of the developments related to tenders and rate negotiations.
The sources in the department said that in November 2015, the top CAPD officials connected with the Purchase Committee of CAPD after long negotiations with the Maharashtra based contractors/ millers finalized a rate of Rs 39.50 per kilogram of sugar and that too, for just three months.
There was some dispute over the rate or commission and the delay of about three months was caused in finalizing the tender. The J&K public was left to suffer by some people at the helm of affairs at that time. The people received irregular supply for three months but now again for the last three months there was no supply of levy sugar at all.
First half of this month is also over, but the CAPD authorities have failed to supply sugar to the public while smooth supply of ‘Atta’ (flour) has not been ensured in many towns and semi urban areas despite massive public cry.
The sugar has gone missing from the CAPD outlets and the stores as well and there is no supply at all for the last several months. Worst is the condition in the hilly and mountainous areas of Rajouri, Poonch, Doda, Ramban, Kishtwar, Reasi, Kathua and Udhampur districts where the general public is mainly dependent on the food stuff provided by the CAPD department.
While the assurances of providing ration as per 2011 census of this Govt have fallen flat, the public is deprived off even the old existing quota of ration. At present, they are getting hardly 50 % of their total allotted quota of ration whereas, in last seven months, levy sugar has been provided to the public only twice or in some areas thrice. The Govt failed to ensure regular supply of sugar for one year by finalizing tenders for whole year. It is said to be going again for fresh tenders.
With this attitude of the CAPD authorities, strong resentment is brewing among the people of the State as the department could not provide levy sugar to them even during festivals. They are being kept high and dry for essential supplies by Government. The public has been left to purchase the sugar from the open market. They say even dealers provide them sugar at the fag end of every month and many consumers remain without supply and their quota is pilfered.
The ration dealers in urban as well as semi-urban areas are generally complaining that concerned Tehsil Supply Officers are not providing them full allotted (APL/BPL/AAY) quota of ration including sugar for the last several months. They further alleged that even the pending quota of previous months has not been cleared. Even they have not lifted wheat from many outlets despite assurance by the Director and it would be replaced by Atta. They have already deposited additional money for the grinding of wheat for seeking supply of Atta.
Sources in the department told the Excelsior that the purchase committee of the CAPD department led by Director Kashmir last time failed to finalise the rate of the levy sugar and long time was wasted in the negotiation process with the millers from outside the State from whom the CAPD would lift sugar quota of about 84,000 MT sugar annually.
Since the rate of the sugar supply to the J&K by all the seven previous national competitors had been quoted above Rs 39.50 per kilogram, the State level purchase committee had a few rounds of negotiations. This delay in the process affected the supply of levy sugar quota to the consumers in J&K for several months. While the CAPD provided sugar in December 2015, after a gap of four months but now in May also there is no supply of levy sugar at all for three months.
Secretary, CAPD Shafiq Ahmed Raina when contacted said that since he has recently taken over, the department has initiated fresh process to call national tenders for seeking supply of levy sugar for J&K. Mr Raina said that before his joining recently, the tenders had been called but the lowest rate quoted by a contractor was Rs 46 per kg, which is quite higher. This contractor from Maharashtra was asked to keep rates low during negotiations as earlier, the contract rate was nearly Rs 36 plus per kilogram. But he did not agree to go below Rs 45. So, it was unanimously decided to go ahead with fresh tenders.
Raina said that May 23 is the last date of calling tenders and it would be opened on May 24, 2016. After finalizing the bid, the supply of sugar would be ensured within 8-10 days to J&K consumers. He disclosed that State needs 70,000 Mt ton sugar every month. On the supply of Atta, Mr Raina said it has already been started in Jammu and Srinagar cities besides some other major towns. In rural and semi urban areas, it is being provided on 60:40 basis ( 60 % Atta and 40 % Wheat) because Atta Chakies and water mills are easily available in these areas but it is a problem in the cities. He claimed that Atta supply will be made smooth in all the areas of the State shortly. Mr Raina further claimed that Minister for CAPD, Ch Zulfkar was taking much pains to streamline the ration supply position in the State.