SRINAGAR: Minister for Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, Transport, Youth Services & Sports, Information Technology and Science & Technology, Satish Sharma on Tuesday said the government would provide an additional quota of food grains during Eid and Muharram festivities to meet the increased public demand across Jammu and Kashmir.
The Minister made these remarks while chairing a review meeting to assess preparedness and ensure seamless availability of essential commodities and public services ahead of the forthcoming Eid and Muharram observances.
The meeting was attended by MLA Zadibal Tanvir Sadiq, Commissioner Secretary FCS&CA Saurabh Bhagat, VC LCMA, MD RTC, RTO Kashmir, senior officers of the administration, officers of the Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Department, representatives of the Food Corporation of India (FCI), Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs), Legal Metrology Organisation (LMO), Food Safety Department, PDD, R&B, PHE, SMC, district administration and other concerned agencies.
During the meeting, Satish Sharma stressed the importance of maintaining uninterrupted supply of essential commodities and directed departments to work in close coordination to ensure that people do not face inconvenience during the festive period.
He directed that adequate stock of food grains and other essential commodities under the Public Distribution System (PDS) and FCI be maintained at all depots and distribution points across Jammu and Kashmir.
The Minister emphasised that timely distribution and proper monitoring mechanisms should be put in place to avoid any shortage or disruption in supply.
Reviewing the availability of LPG, Satish Sharma instructed Oil Marketing Companies and allied agencies to ensure sufficient stock of both domestic and commercial LPG cylinders.
He also directed agencies to streamline the supply chain and distribution process to effectively meet the increased demand during the festive season.
The Minister further instructed the concerned authorities to explore the possibility of reducing the waiting period for booking and refilling domestic LPG cylinders to facilitate consumers during Eid and Muharram.
Directing strict market vigilance, Satish Sharma asked enforcement agencies to undertake regular market checking drives across Jammu and Kashmir.
He instructed the Food Safety Department and Legal Metrology Organisation to intensify inspections to curb overpricing, hoarding, black marketing and sale of substandard goods, while ensuring strict action against violators.
The Minister also directed the Srinagar Municipal Corporation and Lakes Conservation and Management Authority to undertake extensive cleanliness drives in their respective jurisdictions ahead of the religious occasions.
Further, he instructed the Power Development Department (PDD) and Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department to ensure uninterrupted supply of electricity and drinking water during Eid and Muharram.
Speaking during the meeting, MLA Zadibal Tanvir Sadiq emphasised the need for coordinated field-level monitoring to ensure that government arrangements effectively reach the people during the festive period.
He stressed that special attention should be given to areas witnessing large public gatherings and religious congregations so that adequate civic amenities and essential supplies remain available at all times.
Tanvir Sadiq also called for enhanced sanitation measures, proper street lighting and improved water and electricity supply in areas associated with Eid and Muharram gatherings.
He urged all departments to remain responsive to public grievances and ensure prompt redressal of issues during the upcoming religious occasions.
The Minister further directed officers to ensure adequate availability of essential commodities in accordance with anticipated demand and past consumption trends so that people do not face any difficulty during the festive occasions.
