Daily import of essentials not reaching people

Srinagar, Aug 21 (UNI) A majority of depots of Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CA&PD) are without ration, though the authorities claimed that hundreds of trucks carrying essentials are arriving here daily from Jammu.

Meanwhile, private traders also alleged that they are not getting stock from outside while those dealing in Kashmir arts said their vehicles on the way to different Indian states were stranded at different places on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway for the past two weeks.

A ration depot at Ziarat Batmaloo was seen locked and a large number of consumers were waiting outside.

The official concerned of the depot said only two truck-loads of rice was received during this month, so far. ''We have no rice, atta and sugar,'' he rued.

Another depot at Bazar Batmaloo was closed as the authorities had failed to provide monthly ration for consumers.

At Dalgate people alleged that despite repeated complaints no rice, atta and sugar was received and all the depots in the area were closed.

They said the helpline number given by the CA &PD directorate was not responding. All this was misleading the public, as no ration was being supplied to any ration depot, the residents said.

Similar complaints were also received from other parts of the summer capital and other major towns of the valley.

However, an official of the CA &PD said the department could not dispatch ration to different areas because of the strike by the Jammu and Kashmir Road Transport Corporation (JKRTC) drivers and other officials.

We have now requested the Regional Transport Officer (RTO), Kashmir, to provide vehicles for transportation of ration to different areas in the valley, he said.

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