CAPD have no funds to repair its godowns in J&K

Tonnes of ration being lost to rats, insects

Tahir Mushtaq  

JAMMU, Sept 18: Funds shortage has forced the Consumers Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) department to stop all the plans to repair renovate its godowns and storage facilities, which are in dilapidated conditions and major reason for the loss of food grains and infections.

Official said that the most of the godowns have been constructed about 40 years ago and they need major repair but the adequate funds are not been provided to the department, which is a worrisome situation.

Recently, an animal carcass were found in an old godown of warehouse, which generated public debate over upkeep of space meant for storage facilities and exposed the hollow claims of the CAPD department in keeping its facilities clean.

Sources said that since the beginning of the monsoon season most of the godowns are under threat of leakages from ceiling and it become breeding grounds for rats and other insects, which infest food grains posing health risks for consumers.

Sources said that though the directions have been passed to maintain the hygene and monitor the quality of the food grains being supplied to the people in the wake of repeated complaints about poor quality of ration being supplied in the state, but shortage of funds have crippled these efforts.

Talking to TNI, Minister for CAPD, Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan said that the centre only provides Rs 50 to 60 lakh annually for repairing work of the godowns.

He maintained that there are hundreds of storage facilities across the state and it is not possible to renovate all the godowns in one time neither to repair one godown completely adding that if the department repair the godown of warehouse it will cost nearly Rs 70 lakh.

He further said that the department has floats tenders for new godowns and Food Corporation of India (FCI) will take them on lease for 20 years, as the construction of a new godown will take around Rs 8 crore which is very costly.

“As far as maintenance of ration quality is concern, it is the job entitled to the Food Corporation of India, the chief supplier of ration to the state of Jammu and Kashmir,” he added.

Sources said, earlier, the FCI had directed the CAPD to improve the quality of the ration being supplied to the consumers in the state, but the department did not undertaken any concern to  the directions of FCI.