J&K govt to form sub-committee to examine Food Security Act

Jammu and Kashmir government today gave its approval to set up a Cabinet sub-committee to examine the implementation of the National Food Security Act in the state.
The sub-committee which comprises of Deputy Chief Minister as Convenor and Minister for CA&PD and Minister for Finance, Labour & Employment and Culture as members shall submit its recommendations by 25th of November 2015.
The Cabinet met today under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and gave nod to the constitution of the sub-committee (of the Cabinet) to examine the implementation of the National Food Security Act 2013, in Jammu and Kashmir, an official spokesman said.

In another decision, the Cabinet constituted a sub-committee to examine the Rehabilitation and Resettlement Plan for the Project Affected Families (PAF) of the 330 MW Kishanganga hydro-electric project in district Bandipora, he added.
At the meeting, it was decided that the Relief and Rehabilitation department shall frame and finalise a general draft Rehabilitation and Resettlement Policy within a month and place it before the Cabinet for approval, the spokesman said.
A proposal regarding reallocation and re-alignment of houseboats at Dal Lake was also approved by the Cabinet, he said.

The spokesman further said that the project worth Rs 29.50 crore has been prepared to ensure scientific disposal of the sewage generated by the houseboats and decongest significant water expanse covered by the houseboats.

The components of the project include sewerage system, water supply, arrangement/walkways/aligning of house boats along the periphery of land mass, landscaping electric/lighting system etc.
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Referring to the threat of an agitation by separatist groups, the minister said the Act is for the welfare of the people and "I do not think any organization will launch any agitation on it. There is no need to protest."
He said it was the previous National Conference (NC)-Congress government during which the Cabinet decided to implement the Act in the state.
"In 2011, the then government took a cabinet decision, by virtue of which they requested the government of India to implement the NFSA in Jammu and Kashmir.

" But the NC government failed to implement the Act since they were not able to provide the ration as per the 2011 census. We are implementing it with an additional support of 45 lakhs to cover all the people," Ali said.
The minister said the department would look into the discrepancies of data collection and release the payment for the same only after correct data is submitted. "Definitely, we will inquire into it. We will release their payment only when they re-submit the corrected forms," he said.
The minister was speaking on the sidelines of a function after declaring 100 per cent automation of all Indian Oil petrol pumps in Srinagar - the first city in the state to have full automation.