SRINAGAR: Minister for Transport, FCS&CA, Information Technology, Science & Technology, Satish Sharma, today convened separate meetings with senior officers to review the functioning of the Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs and Transport Department.
The meetings aimed to review the preparedness of both departments for the winter season.
While reviewing the functioning of FCS&CA, the Minister reviewed the stock and supply position of essentials in the Kashmir division besides assessing extra arrangements made by the department for the winter season. He cautioned the officials that the government would not tolerate any lapse in making available a sufficient stock supply of essential commodities, especially food grains in the Kashmir division for the winter months. He directed them to always dump stocks in advance so that people do not face difficulty in case the National Highway gets closed due to bad weather.
Expressing satisfaction over the functioning of the department, the Minister said that the FCS&CA department is directly linked with the people and it becomes mandatory for its functionaries to take every possible step to ensure that consumers do not face any difficulty, especially during winter months.
The Minister instructed the officers to address the issues related to ration cards on a priority basis. He also asked them to ensure proper internet connection in far-flung areas so that people don’t face any kind of inconvenience in getting food grains while marking their biometrics.
The Minister appealed to people to get their children enrolled who were born between 2011 to 2016 under the Public Distribution System (FCS &CA) as per their eligibility, as it will benefit such households for additional entitlement as per the group to which they belong.
The Minister also reviewed the functioning of the Transport Department because of the winter season.
The Minister enquired about the maintenance of buses, revenue generation, transport services to remote areas etc.
Expressing satisfaction over revenue generation, the Minister stressed the need for adopting and incorporating innovative ideas for further improving and streamlining the functioning of the Transport Department. He said besides bringing efficiency and transparency in the working of the department, there is a need for providing better and more efficient transport facilities to the public, especially people living in far flung areas and patients.
The Minister asked the officers to work in unison to improve and strengthen public transport system in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Minister also inspected ongoing construction works being executed on the upcoming Sub Regional Science Centre at Lal Mandi here.
During the inspection, Satish Sharma directed the concerned authorities to complete the work in the stipulated time frame ensuring quality of work. He said that laxity on the part of quality will be dealt with strictness.
The Minister exhorted upon that the main objective of the Centre is to provide an activity-based learning environment to inculcate a spirit of inquisitiveness, foster creative talent and create a scientific temper in the community as a whole.
Pertinently, JK Science, Technology and Innovation Council, Department of Science and Technology, is establishing Sub Regional Science Centre at Lal Mandi, Srinagar, in collaboration with the National Council for Science Museums (NCSM), Union Ministry of Culture, with an estimated cost of Rs 20.00 crore.
Commissioner Secretary FCS&CA Zubair Ahmad, Joint Director Bilal Ahmad, RTO Kashmir Syed Shahnawaz Bukhari besides senior officers of FCS&CA, Transport and R&B were present during their respective meetings.
