Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, June 19: The consumers in Jammu and Kashmir will have to wait till end of the August this year for getting subsidized sugar under Public Distribution System (PDS) as its procurement from open market is likely to take around two months.
The codal formalities for the procurement from open market after floating national level tender and then transportation of the sugar to State for further distribution in the Government ration depots was likely to take at least two months, official sources informed the Excelsior.
The statutory time period of minimum 21 days needs to be given to the bidders for their reply while at least 30 days period for delivery of the stock and other formalities will take around two months even as modalities have almost been finalized for floating the tender, which is likely to be issued within the next two-three days, the sources added.
Pertinent to mention that in view of sudden stoppage of levy sugar supply by the Food Corporation of India (FCI), the State Government had last week constituted a high-level Purchase Committee for procurement of PDS sugar from open market.
Headed by Administrative Secretary of CAPD, the six -member committee will procure PDS sugar from open market after inviting tenders and fulfilling all codal formalities. Members of the committee include Director CAPD Jammu/Kashmir, a representative of the Finance Department, Joint Director (Planning) CAPD and Financial Advisor CAPD.
According to the sources, the procurement committee has discussed and almost finalized the tender modalities, like amount of the security to be deposited, time given to the bidders for their reply, date of opening of the tender, sample checking, eligibility of the competitors, FOR (Freight On Route) and time duration for arranging the stock, etc.
At least 21 days needs to be given to the interest parties for filing the bids, which will be opened for issuance of the supply order after proper verification of the eligibility criteria and credibility of the supplier fulfilling all legal formalities. The successful bidder has to be given the minimum time of statutory one month for arranging the stock and its transportation to J&K, source explained.
The entire exercise is likely to take at least two months, which means the PDS sugar is likely to reach the ration depots only by ending August for its further distribution among the consumers, sources said.
When contacted, Commi-ssioner/Secretary CAPD Mohd Abbas Dar claimed that the PDS sugar will be made available to the consumers across Jammu Kashmir in July notwithstanding the procedural delays. We have almost finalized the modalities for the tender, which is likely to be issued tomorrow and all out efforts are being made to ensure procurement of the sugar as soon as possible so that consumers may not suffer,” he said.
However, at the same time, he maintained that all precautions are being taken to avoid any error in the procedure for huge procurement of the sugar, which is being made by the State Government for the first time in its history.
Nearly 8, 40,000 quintal sugar is likely to be procured by the State for its distribution under PDS system.
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