*Dealers forced to pay graft for commission: Arora
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 16: Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Choudhary Zulfkar Ali today said that Government is facing burden of Rs 225 crore annually with the purchase and distribution of subsidized sugar to the PHH category consumers while BJP Legislator alleged corruption in releasing commission of the dealers by officers of his department.
While replying to the question of BJP member Ramesh Arora and subsequent supplementaries, the Minister said that Government of India has already stopped subsidy on sugar and our State is providing to the PHH/ BPL category people in the State. He said Government is purchasing it for the rate of Rs 47 per kg and providing at the rate of Rs 25 per kg. With this, the Government is bearing burden of Rs 225 crore. He claimed that about 74.13 lakh consumers are getting sugar in the State while it is not being provided to NPHH category.
Responding to the supplementary of PDP member Khursheed Alam, the Minister said that Government will conduct survey and have feed back but as of now there is no such proposal to provide levy sugar to NPHH category also.
Zulfkar claimed that the enhancement of rates of foodgrains has not put any burden on the BPL households as they continue to get the ration on highly subsidized rates.
He said after the implementation of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed Food Entitlement Scheme (MMSFES) in the State, the Government distributes wheat at the rate of Rs 1200 per quintal against the procurement rate of Rs 1900 per quintal. Similarly, rice is provided at the rate of Rs 1500 per quintal against the procurement cost of Rs 2400 per quintal, he added.
Replying to a question of Ramesh Arora, the Minister informed that the Government bears a deficit of Rs 9 per kg on rice and Rs 7 per kg on wheat that puts extra burden of Rs 411 crore on state exchequer. In order to reduce the deficit in MMSFES, the rates have been enhanced only under NPHH category and there is no burden on 74.13 lakh BPL families in the State, he asserted.
He further said that the tenders for conversion of wheat into atta have been invited and Jammu district would get 10 kg atta bags as and when the same is finalized.
Meanwhile, the Minister informed that the Government provides carriage/transport charges to the depot owners as per the amount fixed by the concerned Deputy Commissioners. He also said that the dealers are being paid commission as per availability of funds.
The BJP member claimed that huge graft is being accepted by the officers for release of Commission of the dealers. He appealed to the Minister to keep check on this practice. He said for the release of their own money they are being forced to pay graft.
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