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None to stem the rot at J&K warehouse
The Jammu & Kashmir Government is known to spend liberally from its coffers to promote golf tourism. But when it comes to renovating the warehouse of the State Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution department where food grains are stocked before being distributed, it develops cold feet!
For the last more than three years, a proposal to shift the warehouse, already in dilapidated condition, is hanging fire but the State Government has failed to identify a suitable site.
On the intervening night of August 20-21, Jammu witnessed heavy downpours and the warehouse was flooded with water which destroyed large quantities of foodgrain. On Wednesday, when this correspondent visited the warehouse, he was greeted by the sight of a water-logged CAPD compound.
A large number of vehicles were parked outside the CAPD godowns to shift the food grain stocks which were already destroyed. A group of pigs roamed the grounds, feasting on grain.
The SRTC drivers revealed that grain was submerged in knee-deep water inside one of the godowns. The drivers claimed that they were being pressured to withdraw the supplies for distribution and they had refused to load the destroyed food grain.
Initial assessments made by the higher officials of the CAPD department stated that over 120 quintals of food grains, including 70 quintals of rice and 50 quintals of sugar, were completely destroyed. Large stocks of wheat were also ruined by exposure to the rain.
According to official sources, the proposal to shift the warehouse from the present location is gathering dust. “We have been urging the higher authorities to shift the warehouse as the old structure is in bad shape and needs urgent repairs,” a member of the supervisory staff of CAPD department told The Pioneer.
Even clear instructions passed by Minister Qamar Ali Akhoon and his deputy Shabir Ahmad Khan have been constantly ignored by powers at the helm.
When contacted, department director, Jammu division, Parvaiz Ahmad Malik told The Pioneer that the existing warehouse has outlived its utility and needed urgent repairs. He claimed that a fresh proposal has been prepared by the department to reconstruct the warehouse after demolishing the old buildings. “We intend to build a deck or platform to prevent food grains from getting destroyed,” he added.
He, however, claimed that the planning and finance department is yet to clear the proposal. Malik also blamed senior functionaries of Jammu Development Authority for not paying attention towards the state of the CAPD warehouse.
The Jammu & Kashmir Government is known to spend liberally from its coffers to promote golf tourism. But when it comes to renovating the warehouse of the State Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution department where food grains are stocked before being distributed, it develops cold feet!
For the last more than three years, a proposal to shift the warehouse, already in dilapidated condition, is hanging fire but the State Government has failed to identify a suitable site.
On the intervening night of August 20-21, Jammu witnessed heavy downpours and the warehouse was flooded with water which destroyed large quantities of foodgrain. On Wednesday, when this correspondent visited the warehouse, he was greeted by the sight of a water-logged CAPD compound.
A large number of vehicles were parked outside the CAPD godowns to shift the food grain stocks which were already destroyed. A group of pigs roamed the grounds, feasting on grain.
The SRTC drivers revealed that grain was submerged in knee-deep water inside one of the godowns. The drivers claimed that they were being pressured to withdraw the supplies for distribution and they had refused to load the destroyed food grain.
Initial assessments made by the higher officials of the CAPD department stated that over 120 quintals of food grains, including 70 quintals of rice and 50 quintals of sugar, were completely destroyed. Large stocks of wheat were also ruined by exposure to the rain.
According to official sources, the proposal to shift the warehouse from the present location is gathering dust. “We have been urging the higher authorities to shift the warehouse as the old structure is in bad shape and needs urgent repairs,” a member of the supervisory staff of CAPD department told The Pioneer.
Even clear instructions passed by Minister Qamar Ali Akhoon and his deputy Shabir Ahmad Khan have been constantly ignored by powers at the helm.
When contacted, department director, Jammu division, Parvaiz Ahmad Malik told The Pioneer that the existing warehouse has outlived its utility and needed urgent repairs. He claimed that a fresh proposal has been prepared by the department to reconstruct the warehouse after demolishing the old buildings. “We intend to build a deck or platform to prevent food grains from getting destroyed,” he added.
He, however, claimed that the planning and finance department is yet to clear the proposal. Malik also blamed senior functionaries of Jammu Development Authority for not paying attention towards the state of the CAPD warehouse.
