Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Aug 24: Despite arrival of thousands of trucks loaded with essential commodities, people in Kashmir, particularly in the rural and far flung areas continue to face acute shortage of essentials, particularly rice, flour and sugar. Due to reasons better known to Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CA&PD) officials, no distribution of ration, sugar and other items is being made. People allege the essentials meant for public are supplied to blue eyed persons.
"I am witness to it. If saw a CA&PD official unloading huge quantity of sugar at DC office Srinagar in his private vehicle (JK01T-765) . When, enquired, I was told that this sugar is meant for a top bureaucrat and even Assistant Director CA&PD, city, confirmed this but said that only 50 kilograms of sugar were supplied to the Bureaucrat," one of the residents of Noorbagh Srinagar, Imtiyaz Ahmed told a local news agency.
Majority of depots of CA&PD in the Valley, particularly in rural and far-flung areas are without stock for the past two months, forcing people to purchase rice, flour and sugar from the open market. People said the Government instead of trotting out statistics should try to reach out to people and take special measures for solution of this grave problem.
"We don't have even rice, sugar and flour available even in the open market, alleged Abdul Rashid, a resident of Hashroo, Chadoora in the central Kashmir.
Pakharpora in Budgam, Daradpora in Kupwara, Ladu Ladura in Rafiabad have a similar story to tell. Reports suggest that people are on verge of starvation in these areas.
Even in the city, including Budshah Nagar, Natipora, Malroo, Mehjoor Nagar, Nowgam and down town besides civil lines, the ration depots are empty. People are expressing deep concern over the shortage of essential commodities in the Valley.
"Ration and other food items are available with the department but ironically it is not being allocated and distributed. "Influential persons approach top officials of CA&PD and get the ration, sugar, flour and other items from them," alleged a resident of Rambagh Srinagar.
Similarly, in North, South and Central Kashmir most people have been left to fend for themselves with the Public Distribution system almost completely collapsed.
Former CA&PD Minister and senior Congress leader Taj Mohi-ud-Din said that it is all happening because of the mismanagement. "The allocation is same and the ration cards are same but it is only mismanagement which leaves people fuming. During my tenure as Minister for CA&PD, I used to provide 11 kg rice and 2 kg flour but the currently the department is not able to give 4 kilograms of rice to people," Taj said.
Despite repeated attempts, Minister for CA&PD Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan could not be contacted. |
