STATE TIMES NEWS
UDHAMPUR: Continuing with efforts to streamline the supply of quality ration to the consumers, a joint team of officers of Legal Metrology and CAPD Jammu under the supervision of Director CAPD, G.S Chib conducted surprise inspection of four flour mills at Udhampur.
The team was constituted by Minister CAPD and Tribal Affairs Ch Zulfkar Ali to ascertain the adherence of terms and conditions of grinding by the flour mills.
The team conducted thorough checking of stocks position of the mills. During inspection team took the samples of 10 kg bags at R.C Flour Mill and found it underweight by an average of 100 gms per bag. At Shalimar Flour Mill, the team found 50 kg bags having average 400 gms less per bag. Both the mills were booked by Inspector Legal Metrology Udhampur and a fine of Rs 25,000 was imposed and recovered from one firm while seizure was issued at the other Mill.
The team also served notice to all four mills inspected for their observance related to breach of terms and conditions and to show cause why action may not be initiated against them.
Meanwhile, acting on complaints regarding substandard quality of flour and violation of Public Distribution System (PDS) norms, Ch Zulfkar conducted raids in various flour mills yesterday.
The minister conducted surprise raids at ‘New Jammu Flour Mill’ and ‘New Nav Flour Mill’, an official spokesman said.
The minister took notice of Punjab-made flour packing bags being used in New Jammu Flour Mill which, he said, can be used for commercialised purpose bringing a bad name to the department. He immediately suspended the mill supervisor and asked the mill employees to use bags tagged with J and K, PDS, batch number besides quantity and manufacturing date in future. He also observed that the mill was not adhering to certain norms like separate compartment for grinding of PDS flour and sale of underweight flour bag both in case of commercial and PDS. He imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on the mill and asked the director to suspend lifting of PDS flour from the mill and issue a show-cause notice in this regard.
At New Nav Flour Mill, the Minister noticed multiple MRPs on flour bags besides use of un-calibrated filling machine and underweight bags.
He imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh on the mill. This mill was also not using separate compartment for grinding of PDS wheat.
The Minister constituted a committee headed by Deputy Director Food and Supplies to monitor functioning of flour mills and CAPD stores in all the districts besides ensuring strict adherence to the fixed norms by these units.
The Minister appealed to the people to register their complains at the department’s grievances cell regarding the services of CAPD as timely and quality supply of essentials is prime concern of present dispensation.
Earlier, the Minister also paid surprise visit to CAPD stores to get feedback on the directions issued by him regarding timely dispatch of rations to all destinations.
