Irfan Lone
Kupwara, September 8: The department of Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs(FCS&CA) Kupwara is again involved in an infamous scandal and the directorate has attached Assistant Director Food, suspended and attached four Tehsil Supply Officers and two employees of AD office Kupwara.
According to an official source an enquiry team has also been formed which is verifying from multiple sources to find out who were the people actually Involved in this scandal.
About the Scandal
According to a source some people from Union (Food department) had filed an RTI to get the information about the ration qouta given/distributed in the district.
“This would have opened all the dark secrets of the department, hence a new method was applied” Said this source adding that, some Tehsil Supply Officers openly demanded money from store keepers and Private Ration dealers where they told them that ‘Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) has registered a case and this money can save the employees of department’. However no one knew as to why and how ACB was involved and why TSOs were collecting money.
Another source within the department said some Circles were asked to collect Rs 50,000.
“They were targeting some Rs. 12 lakhs. No one still knows whether they were collecting it for office, as claimed or were they trying to negotiate with those who filed the RTI”, said this source.
This reporter asked a few Storekeepers and fair price shop holders whether those suspended were actually involved. Most of them were confused because no TSO or office staff directly contacted each Storekeeper.
“All I can is that some among them are mere scapegoats”.
Diversion issue
According to a source some fair price shop holders (Private ration dealers) directly contacted the Director Kashmir (Food Supplies) where they informed him about the money collecting issue. The director however assured them that he will take strict action against those involved, suddenly reached Kupwara and met multiple sources. At Handwara he was told by private dealers that they were asked for money by TSOs for “Office”, without mentioning who was from office.
According to a source in the directorate the director was also told that they were charged for “Diversion” for atleast thrice in last two years.
“Most of the times officials told storekeepers and private dealers that either they have given extra ration under PMGKAY (Free Ration in Pendamic announced by Prime Minister) or have paid extra against the alotment. Later the higher authorities informed us that there was no extra ration given either under free ration scheme or extra paid against alotment”, said this source.
The other source however rebutted this claim.
“There were some Rs. 68 lakh diversion, out of which some Rs. 20 lakhs were collected. Some people deliberately tried to confuse storekeepers against few officials in the AD office”.
This reporter tried to contact Director food supplies Kashmir but was unable to reach him. Once kupwaratimes.com gets any official version story will be updated.