Shillong, October 8: In a move aimed at strengthening transparency and preventing irregularities in the transportation of foodgrains, Secretary of the Department of Food and Public Distribution, Government of India, Sanjeev Chopra, IAS, inaugurated a Command and Control Centre at the Directorate of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs in Shillong on Thursday. The newly inaugurated facility will enable authorities to monitor the movement of vehicles transporting foodgrains from storage depots to Fair Price Shops (FPS) through a GPS-based tracking system.
Speaking to reporters after the inauguration, Chopra said the system would track vehicles either through GPS devices installed in the vehicles or through the mobile phones of drivers involved in transporting foodgrains. He explained that the Command and Control Centre would allow officials to monitor vehicle movements in real time and verify whether foodgrain consignments had reached their designated Fair Price Shops.
Chopra said the initiative was particularly important in addressing complaints relating to vehicles failing to reach their intended destinations, as well as suspected diversion of foodgrains and other irregularities in the distribution network. Under the new system, authorities will be able to immediately identify and locate vehicles whenever discrepancies are reported, enabling prompt intervention and necessary action.
The initiative is expected to improve monitoring of foodgrain transportation, strengthen accountability and ensure that essential supplies reach their intended destinations. Commissioner and Secretary Pravin Bakshi, IAS, Director I. Mawlong and other officials were present during the inauguration.
