'We in our State are heading for severe drought next summer in view of low levels of precipitation during this winter,' said the Jammu and Kashmir chief minister.
Warning that Jammu and Kashmir could be headed for a drought, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today asked the Centre for higher food grains allocations to meet the increased demand.
Omar said his government has already informed the ministry of consumer affairs, food and public distribution that the requirement of food grains for distribution at affordable rates under the PDS system was much more than the current allocation.
"We in our State are heading for severe drought next summer in view of low levels of precipitation during this winter. Fortunately, now rain and snow have arrived and we expect some respite. But, we are still not very sure how things will shape up. So the best way forward is to prepare for the worst," Omar said at the chief minister's conference on prices of essential commodities.
He said the current allocation was 63,067 MTs per month (42,931 MTs rice and 20,136 MTs wheat) at 35 kg per family.
"This (allocation) is for 18.02 lakh ration tickets whereas we have issued 19.60 ration tickets thus leaving about 1.58 lakh ration tickets without allocation.
"Then the scale of 35 kgs per family per month is also not sufficient as traditionally our scales have never been less than 11 kgs per soul per month in the cities and towns and 5 kgs per soul per month in the villages," he said.
Omar said with land under paddy cultivation shrinking and increased incidence of drought like conditions, the state's
monthly requirement has increased over the years.
"We will like to have an allocation of at least 98,000 MTs per month for all the 19.60 lakh ration ticket holders at 50 kgs per family per month," he said.
Talking about the steps taken against hoarders, he said the state government has already prescribed stock hoarding limits for essential commodities like sugar, pulses of all varieties, paddy, edible oils of all brands, edible oil seeds, rice and wheat and formed apex squads to crack down on hoarders.
During 2009, the CM said 3,445 inspections and 1,213 raids were conducted as a result of which 210 persons were arrested and convicted whereas 45 Fair Price Shops licences were suspended.
He said the state police has registered 449 cases, arrested 449 persons and prosecuted 227 persons under sections 3/7 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 during 2009.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=spacer}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}