Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 12: Terming rumors about salt shortage a mischief, Minister for Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali has clarified that there is no dearth of salt in Jammu & Kashmir.
The Minister said that some people are spreading the rumors about shortage of salt in Jammu & Kashmir which is a hoax. He said that some people are trending the news on TV and social media which has no authenticity.
Zulfkar said the Government won’t allow anybody to create artificial shortage of salt and unscrupulous elements found involved in hoarding of salt will be dealt with as per the law.
The Minister also clarified that not only Jammu & Kashmir, there is no shortage of salt in the whole country. He said the people who are trying to create artificial shortage of salt are having vested interest. ”These people are hell bent to hike prices of essential commodities for which they are trying to spread rumors about artificial shortage of commodities,” Zulfkar added.
Zulfkar Ali has issued strict instructions to the officers of Department of Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs and Legal Metrology Department to strictly keep an eye on markets and check hoarding of salt if any. He instructed to take stern against those found involved in creating artificial shortage of salt and other commodities.
Meanwhile, while chairing a review meeting, the Minister issued specific instructions to the officers to take necessary steps to provide ration to all such employees and their families who have moved with the Durbar move. He said it should be ensured that every beneficiary coming under National Food Security Act (NFSA) or Mufti Mohammad Syeed Food Entitlement Scheme (MMSFES) receive allotted quota of food-grains from one place only and there should be no deviation of the standing instructions.
The Minister also urged the Food Corporation of India (FCI) officers to ensure that consumers are provided with quality food-grains. He directed for formulating a committee headed by Additional Secretary, FCS&CA with Members from FCI and other officers of FCS&CA who will monitor the quality of food-grains to be procured. The committee members would carry out inspection on every Saturday and furnish a detailed report to the Minister’s office as well, he said.
The Minister also issued instructions to Deputy Commissioner, Jammu to ensure freezing of data under National Food Security Act (NFSA) before the end of the current month. He also directed the DC for verification and completion of lists of beneficiaries under both the categories i.e. priority as well non-priority by the end of current month enabling the Government to provide entitlements under various schemes to genuine beneficiaries.
Secretary FCS&CA, Shafiq Raina, Director, FCS&CA, G. S. Chib, FCI General Manager, Kishore Kumar, representatives from National Informatic Centre and other concerned officers attended the meeting.
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