Bilal Bashir Bhat
Srinagar, April 10 (KNB): A day after the Kashmir News Bureau (KNB) under its policy of investigative journalism published a story titled, “Violation of SRO-157: SRTC faces 40% loss in annual revenue,” the Jammu and Kashmir Government while reacting instantly to the report has asked Department for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumers Affairs (FCS&CA) to utilize the fleet of Jammu and Kashmir State Road Transport Corporation (JKSRTC) for transportation of food grains from FCI depots to departmental godowns across the state.
Reports reaching KNB stated that Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumers Affairs (FCS&CA) & Tribal Affairs, Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali Tuesday called an important meeting with officers of JKSRTC and FCS&CA department to discuss issues related to transportation of food grains in the State during which FCS&CA department was asked to utilize the fleet of SRTC for transportation of food grains from FCI depots to departmental godowns across the state.
The Minister instructed JKSRTC authorities to provide adequate transportation with efficient, modern mechanisms including GPS so that real time location of the vehicles carrying food grains can be tracked.
The Minister further directed to constitute a committee comprising Commissioner Secretary FCS&CA, Commissioner Secretary Finance, Secretary Transport, Director FCS&CA Jammu, Director FCS&CA Kashmir, Managing Director JK SRTC and General Manager Transport Department to prepare a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with terms and conditions for supplying of vehicle and freight charges in light of the Cabinet Decision and State Road Transport Corporation Act 1950. The Committee will be responsible to revise the freight rates strictly as per the distance and genuineness of the transportation facility and discuss all modalities for smooth lifting of food grains all over the state. The Committee shall submit the report within 20 days, he added. Meanwhile, the Minister also directed JKSRTC authorities to ensure full lifting of food grains for this month by April 13, 2018.
Pertinently on Monday KNB in an investigative report has disclosed that the Directorate of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Kashmir (FCS&CA) has entertained private firms to meet its requirements of vehicles for carrying of food grains affecting the loss of 40% annual revenue to J&K State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC). (KNB)