SRINAGAR: J&K’s LG Manoj Sinha Saturday announced 10 kg additional ration at subsidized rates for priority households of UT under PM’s Food Supplementation Scheme for Priority households.He added that there was no other option besides the smart metres because J&K’s electricity debt payments rose to Rs 31000 Crore during the last four years. The LG announced that priority households in J&K are already receiving 5 kg of rations free per person per family while speaking at a press conference in Raj bhawan. “A 10 kilogramme bonus ration will now be given to every family residing in a priority residence. The Prime Minister’s FSS for priority households in the UT will cover 14,32 lakh ration card holders and 57,24000 families in J&K, he said, adding that the welfare of the poor remained the primary focus of the J&K administration. He stated that the additional 10 kg of food would be given out at a cost of Rs 25 per kilogramme.”This will cost Rs 1.80 Cr to the UT government annually,” the LG stated, adding that consumers who qualify for the PM’s FSS for priority households will only have to pay Rs 25 per kg of rice as opposed to the current rate of Rs 34. “There is a subsidy of Rs 9,” he announced. People who reside in priority homes are already entitled to a free 4 kilogramme ration per person. Therefore, the LG states that if there are four family members, they will each receive 10 kg of discounted rice in addition to 16 kg of free feed. In response to a question concerning the delay in SSB recruitment, he stated that there were reports of irregularities in the early exams, which led to the launch of a CBI investigation.Exams will be held after the High Court renders a judgement on the case. Exam dates for newly created positions will be notified within 15 days, according to the LG. Regarding the administration’s response to Panthal’s road stretch collapsing, the LG stated that work is ongoing to prepare a backup route for Amarnath pilgrims within three days. “Once the tunnel is finished, that will be the permanent solution,” he stated.When asked if there would be any tariff relief for the poor, the LG responded that people would have to pay their electricity bills according to their usage. “Power tariff bills reached Rs 31000 Crore in the last four years,” he claimed. The LG stated that the Amarnath Yatra had been postponed due to the rains and expressed optimism that conditions will clear up by tomorrow to allow pilgrims to travel to the cave shrine.
