STATE TIMES NEWS
SRINAGAR: Minister for Transport, FCS&CA, Information Technology, Science & Technology, Satish Sharma on Friday convened separate meetings with senior officers to review the functioning of Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs and Transport Department.
The meetings aimed to review the preparedness of both the departments for the winter season.
While reviewing the functioning of FCS&CA, the Minister reviewed the stock and supply position of essentials in Kashmir division besides assessing extra arrangements made by the department for winter season. He cautioned the officials that the government would not tolerate any lapse in making available sufficient stock supply of essential commodities, especially food grains in Kashmir division for the winter months. He directed them to always dump stocks in advance so that people do not face difficulty in case the National Highway gets closed due to bad weather.
Expressing satisfaction over the functioning of the department, the Minister said that FCS&CA department is directly linked with the people and it becomes mandatory on its functionaries to take every possible step to ensure that consumers do not face any difficulty, especially during winter months.
The Minister instructed the officers to address the issues related to ration cards on priority basis. He also asked them to ensure proper internet connection in far flung areas so that people don’t face any kind of inconvenience to get food grains while marking their biometric.
The Minister appealed people to get their children enrolled who are born between 2011 to 2016 under Public Distribution System (FCS &CA) as per their eligibility, as it will benefit such households for additional entitlement as per the group to which they belong.
The Minister also reviewed the functioning of Transport Department in view of winter season.
The Minister enquired about the maintenance of buses, revenue generation, transport services to remote areas etc.
Expressing satisfaction over revenue generation, the Minister stressed the need for adopting and incorporating innovative ideas for further improving and streamlining functioning of the Transport Department. He said besides bringing efficiency and transparency in working of the department, there is a need for providing better and efficient transport facilities to the public, especially people living in far flung areas and patients.
The Minister asked the officers to work in unison to improve and strengthen public transport system in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Minister also inspected ongoing construction works being executed on upcoming Sub Regional Science Centre at Lal Mandi here.
During inspection, Satish Sharma directed the concerned authorities to complete the work in stipulated time frame ensuring quality of work. He said that laxity on part of quality will be dealt with strictness.
The Minister exhorted upon that main objective of the Centre is to provide activity based learning environment to inculcate a spirit of inquisitiveness, foster creative talent and create scientific temper in the community as a whole.
Pertinently, JK Science, Technology and Innovation Council, Department of Science and Technology, is establishing Sub Regional Science Centre at Lal Mandi, Srinagar, in collaboration with National Council for Science Museums (NCSM), Union Ministry of Culture, with an estimated cost of Rs 20.00 crore.
Commissioner Secretary FCS&CA Zubair Ahmad, Joint Director Bilal Ahmad, RTO Kashmir Syed Shahnawaz Bukhari besides senior officers of FCS&CA, Transport and R&B were present during their respective meetings.