Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Tuesday reviewed the availability and distribution of essential commodities in flood-affected districts, directing officials to ensure uninterrupted supplies, prevent price escalation and complete the distribution of foodgrains and kerosene under various welfare schemes by August 15.
The directions were issued at a review meeting chaired by Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Department Principal Secretary Sanjay Kumar Singh at the department’s conference hall. The meeting was held on the advice of Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra.
Managing Director of the Odisha State Civil Supplies Corporation K. Sudarshan Chakravarty, senior departmental officials and district supply officers from across the state participated in the meeting through video conferencing.
The meeting focused on maintaining the supply chain of essential commodities and ensuring their easy availability in flood-affected areas. Officials also reviewed measures to curb any rise in the prices of essential goods. Singh instructed district supply officers to remain vigilant, promptly address complaints and intensify enforcement drives wherever necessary to prevent hoarding, black marketing and other irregularities.
The department also reviewed the lifting and distribution of rice under the Chief Minister’s Annapurna Yojana for the April-May-June period for food security beneficiaries, along with the July-August rice allocation under the National Food Security Scheme, the State Food Security Scheme and the Chief Minister’s Annapurna Yojana.
In addition, the review covered the distribution of kerosene allocated for July, August and September. District supply officers were directed to take all necessary steps to ensure that the lifting and distribution of the pending rice and kerosene quotas are completed by August 15, according to the official statement.
