Early Times Report
Srinagar, May 2: For delaying probe into the alleged misappropriation of 45,000 quintals of rice in central Kashmir's Budgam district, officials have come under scanner.
Official sources said the government had taken a serious note of reports that 13,200 quintals of rice, allocated additionally under 2011 census for public distribution in Budgam district for January, had gone missing.
The Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) department held a departmental inquiry into the alleged ration scam.
"It has come to our notice that people had not received ration in January. Now, we are going to conduct a probe into the incident," CAPD director, Kashmir, Mushtaq Ahmad Shah said.
"After our probe, the case may be referred to the crime branch for further investigation," he added.
32,400 quintals of ration under normal quota and 13,200 quintals of extra rice as per the census 2011 were allotted to Budgam district for public distribution from FCI godown, Budgam.
"But no ration was provided to the general public," sources said.
Sources alleged that residents of Charisharif, Chadoora, Dooru, Chakle Khan, Seban, Reshipora and various other areas had not received any ration in January and February.
Sources regretted that the inquiry committee appointed by CAPD Director had failed to submit the report even after a month of its constitution.
This is not the first time when the alleged ration scam has surfaced in district Budgam. In 2014, around 3,000 quintals of rice had gone missing from a granary in Chadoora area of Budgam district.
During the September 2014 floods, over 10,000 quintals of rice meant for flood relief to had gone missing as a result which CAPD Assistant Director, Budgam, was placed under suspension under order No DCAPD/PS/2014/G- of September 9, 2014 and attached to the directorate of CAPD.
The suspended assistant director was later reinstated under order No 71-CAPD of October 16, 2014, and again posted at Budgam. |
