In a meeting of senior officers of the Food Corporation of India (FCI) at Nagrota Bagwan, Minister for Transport, Food and Civil Supplies GS Bali revealed that under the Public Entrepreneurship Guarantee Scheme for the next two years, the food storage capacity in the state will be enhanced to 25,000 metric tonnes so that food distribution through the public distribution system can be regularised.
Bali said with the help of the Union Government under the pilot project in the district, electronic ration card scheme would be implemented shortly and under it the consumer could purchase food and other items from any civil supplies depot.
He said under the public private partnership (PPP), Food and Civil Supplies distribution outlets would be set up at all prominent bus stands from where pilgrims, tourists and local people could purchase daily consumer items. Bali asked the Food and Civil Supplies Department and the FCI to work jointly with proper coordination.
He said the FCI godown at Nagrota Bagwan would be handed over to the Civil Supplies Department and the pending dues of the Hill Road Transport would be disbursed. He announced that for a food storage centre, 10 acres of land would be made available at Nagrota Bagwan within 10 days.
On the occasion, Joint Secretary, FCI, Sudhir Garg claimed that the working of PDF system in Himachal Pradesh was satisfactory and transparent. Garg added that 1.40 lakh metric tonne storage capacity would be created so that people would have ration for four months.
HS Baliwal, Deputy General Manager, FCI, and SK Jain, Director, Civil Supplies, SM Nanta, Director, Food and Civil Supplies Department, BS Badiliya and other officers attended that meeting.
