Paswan asks FCIto shift godowns from congested Shaheed Gunj

Srinagar, July 1

The Centre has directed the Food Corporation of India to expedite shifting of FCI godowns from the highly-congested Shaheed Gunj area of Srinagar to the city’s periphery, officials today said.

The state government has decided to relocate godowns of the FCI and Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Department to decongest the city.

The issue was raised by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti with Union Minister for Food and Public Distribution Ram Vilas Paswan who met her here today.

“Mehbooba sought the Union ministry’s technical and financial assistance for relocating these godowns to the outskirts of Srinagar to decongest the core area,” a statement said.

“We have almost all our important hospitals and other critical infrastructure in the vicinity of these godowns and movement of trucks to and from there causes massive inconvenience to commuters,” she said, adding the government had decided to shift them to the city’s periphery at Civil Lines.

The Chief Minister said around 100 kanals which would be available in the Shaheed Gunj area after relocation of the FCI godowns could be used to create recreational and parking facilities for the people.

It was decided in the meeting that till a permanent site was identified for relocation, the corporation could for the time being shift the storage facility to Lethpora in Pulwama district where enough space was available.

The Union minister asked the Deputy General Manager of the FCI to personally visit Shaheed Gunj storage facility on Monday and ensure its shifting to outside the city at the earliest, an official spokesman said.

Mehbooba also sought additional foodgrains for the state to meet the requirement for implementing Mufti Mohammad Sayeed Food Entitlement Scheme (MMSFES) which was rolled out today.

The government will be spending around Rs 400 crore on the purchase of grains for distribution among the people at subsidised rates under MMSFES.

The other issues raised by her with Paswan included providing funds to the state on a 90:10 ratio under e-PDS scheme for end-to-end computerisation, construction of silos at Anantnag, Budgam, Pulwama, Kathua, Samba and Udhampur, adjustment of CAPD labourers in the FCI, and financial support for setting up of 11 food-testing laboratories in the state.

Paswan assured the Chief Minister that the issues flagged by her would be addressed on a priority basis, the spokesman said.

Paswan said he would be convening a meeting in New Delhi next week to thrash out these issues. — PTI