Subsidised flour: authorities directed to ensure transparent distribution

Divisional Commissioner Hyderabad, Ahmad Bux Narejo has expressed his dissatisfaction on the mode of distribution of subsidised flour and warned the management of flourmills to distribute flour in the bags carrying printed message of government regarding the subsidy.
He warned officers of food department to ensure that not a single bag of subsidised flour could go to undeserving people. He gave these instructions while paying surprise visit to Hyderabad flourmills and subsidised cell points, here on Tuesday. Deputy Commissioner Hyderabad, Asif Memon, District Food Controller (DFC) Hyderabad Sallahuddin and other officers of line department accompanied the commissioner during the visit.
Narejo, while detecting no representative from food department or revenue department at the sale point of subsidised flour expressed his apprehensions and said that this loophole may cause easier for profiteers and hoarders to grab the available stock. He directed the deputy commissioner to review the SOP for transparent distribution of subsidised flour at the rate of rupees 210/- per 10kg bag in such a way so that not a single bag goes to the undeserving. He warned that in case of negligence, action would be taken against relevant officers and flourmills management.
He said that provincial government provided more than rupees two billion for subsidy on flour just to benefit the poor and that such benefit must be trickled down to the deserving people. During the visit, DFC Salahuddin informed the commissioner that as many as 119 stalls have been set up for distribution of subsidised flour to the poor people. He added that of these stalls, 70 have been set up in the urban areas of the district.
Later, the divisional commissioner held a meeting with Sindh Minister for Fisheries, Zahid Ali Bhurgri at Commissioner's Camp Office to devise strategy for efficient supply of subsidised flour to poor people. PPP leader Fayyaz Shah was also present in the meeting.
The commissioner urged upon the PPP leader to help the administration in identification of poor localities and monitoring for judicious distribution of subsidised flour to the poor people. Fayyaz highlighted the difficulties in the supply of the commodity to poor people and submitted list of localities for setting up the stalls. The divisional commissioner also took round of Taluka Hyderabad City, Qasimabad and Latifabad to inspect cleanliness in the areas. Expressing his apprehensions over the heaps of garbage and filthy condition of roads, he directed the concerned officers to prepare long-term and short-term plans to keep the city clean. He stressed that such scheme must be implemented with the participation of local people.
He observed that no development scheme could be made successful without the co-operation or participation of the community concerned. Talking with the people during the visit, Narejo said that government would provide funds and infrastructure with running condition but people of area must own the facilities and monitor the same regularly. He agreed with view of shopkeepers at Qadam Gah Moula Ali and directed management of Wasa to replace old and out of order sewerage pumping machine within a week, ensuring that there is no overflow in the sewerage lines.
Deputy Commissioner Hyderabad Asif Memon, DG HDA Ghulam Muhammad, Municipal Commissioner HMC and Assistant Commissioners of the concerned taluka accompanied the commissioner during the visit. While talking to the residents at HDA Park Qasimabad Phase-I, the commissioner said that district administration wants to rehabilitate and renovate the park on permanent basis for which community of the area must participate. He directed DG HDA to prepare a strategy to bring the sub surface water table down to protect the public and private properties. He also directed Municipal Commissioner Hyderabad to devise a strategy for disposal of garbage, building material, hospital waste and house hold waste in an efficient manner.