Food & Civil Supplies Deptt gears up to enhance public distribution system in Bandipora
Bandipora, Oct 26: The Food and Civil Supplies Department (FCS&CA) Bandipora has initiated measures to improve the public distribution system in the district after reports of rat infestation in one of its government food supply stores raised concerns among locals about the safety of food grains meant for public consumption.
Earlier this month, residents from Bandipora town had complained about a government distribution store being “infested with rats,” questioning the quality and safety of food grains distributed under the public distribution system. A visit to the store had revealed damaged rice bags and visible signs of rodent activity.
Officials at the time had attributed the issue to the store operating from an old, rented building, where structural damage allowed rodents to enter through gaps in shutters and walls.
However, following renewed public concern, the Assistant Director FCS&CA Bandipora, Naseer Ahmad, on Saturday said the department has now deputed officials to the site to inspect the cause of the infestation and take corrective measures. “We have sent a team to assess the store and identify the entry points of rodents. Immediate steps will be taken to ensure the safety of food grains stored there,” Ahmad told Greater Kashmir.
When asked about the long-term solution, another departmental official said that the issue has been discussed within the department and that a proposal for shifting the store to a new location has been received and approved in principle.
“The store in question is too old, and the concrete base has deteriorated, making it impossible to completely block rodent entry. A new site has been identified for relocation,” the official confirmed, adding that the department is also working to incorporate preventive measures against such issues in the next financial year’s plan.
Locals, meanwhile, have welcomed the department’s response but urged that the relocation and repairs be expedited to ensure food safety for consumers across the district.
Similar concerns and reports keep coming from villages as well, "The department should act swifty to ensure the food supplied via government stores and depos is safe for consumption," Rafeeq Ahmed Lone, a local said. Meanwhile, the district food safety officials have also taken cognizance of the issue and raised the matter with district AD food.
