Shortage hits Valley’s ration depots

SRINAGAR — People in various areas of the valley complained of shortage in ration depots, with weaker sections finding it difficult to procure essentials like rice, flour and sugar.

On Saturday, the news agency CNS received calls from various districts complaining about the lack of food grains, compelling them to fetch essentials from private shops.

“We have no rice to eat and can’t even afford to purchase it from the open market at exorbitant rates,” said Ghulam Qadir from Tral area of Pulwama district.

Inhabitants of various districts have the same complaint that the ration depots were without supplies, forcing the people to face hardships. “We are suffering immense hardships due to a shortage of essentials for the past month. The authorities have failed to supply the ration,” said Abbas Ahmad, a local from Natipora area of Srinagar district.

They demanded that government should take immediate steps to keep rations available at the depots.

Official sources from the Department of Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA) told CNS that there is no shortage of rations and it is being monitored regularly. “We have distributed ration to depots. There is neither shortage of stock with us nor we have withheld its distribution,” they added.

Meanwhile, CNS tried to reach Director FCS&CA Department Kashmir, Abdul Salam Mir but there was no response from his side despite repeated attempts.