| |
| |
|
One of
the main functions of the Salt Commissioner’s Organization is arranging equitable distribution of salt in the country. In
coordination with Railways Distribution and Movement of salt from
production centers to consuming states is planned by Salt
Commissionerate. Any salt manufacturer can transport salt by rail for
human or industrial consumption. However there is a nationwide ban on
sale
of
non-iodised salt for human consumption. Only Iodised salt can be booked
by rail for human consumption.
|
|
The Combine Average Salt Production in Gujrat (87.4%), Tamil Nadu (4.7%) and Rajasthan (6.7%)
is 98.8% of the total salt produce in the country. The rest 1.2% of production comes
from Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Karnataka, West Bengal, Goa,
Himachal Pradesh, Diu & Daman. Only Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan
produces salt surplus to their requirement and cater the requirement for edible
and industrial consumption of other States/Union Territories all over
the country. Hence
it is imperative that salt, being an essential commodity, reaches every
nook and corner of the country regularly in time to prevent any scarcity
of salt in the country.
|
|
About
65.4% of salt for human consumption moves by rail and the rest by
road. As regards industrial consumption, 66.41% of the movement
takes place by road, 24.72% by rail and the rest 8.87% by
coastal shipment.
|
|
Railway Board
under its office memorandum No.2005/TT-III/12/7
New Delhi, Dt. 17.1.2006 had introduced simplification of procedure for
registration of indents of salt rakes with effect w.e.f. 1-04-06. No indent for human consumption
salt rake will be accepted without the valid certificate issued by the
Salt Commissioner or his authorized agents. The condition of above
certificate was however relaxed by Railway Board Office Memorandum No.
2005/TT-III/12/7 dated 24.5.2006, stating therein that “Forwarding note
detailing the particularls with an endorsement/countersignation by the
Salt Commissioner or his authorized agent(s) will also be accepted for
placement of indents”. Indents for industrial salt need not have any
such certificate. There will be no piecemeal movement of salt.
|
|
A copy
of the office memorandum No.2005/TT-III/12/7 New Delhi, Dt. 17.1.2006
issued by the Railways regarding the procedure for registration of
indents of salt rakes is appended below (Annexure I).
|
|
A copy
of the Guidelines issued by the Salt Commissionerate for
countersignature of indents for human consumption is also appended below
(Annexure – II).
|
|
Movement of salt to North Eastern States (except Meghalaya), Sikkim,
West Bengal and Orissa (partly) is planned under quarterly programmes
and issued in consultation with State Governments.
State Governments of then states prepare a list of nominees authorizing them to procure iodised salt for human consumption every quarter and forward it to Salt
Commissioner, Jaipur. In respect of salt iodisation units who are
granted permission in consuming states, movement of common salt for
iodisation at their units is allowed and programmed. Accordingly
quarterly programmes are drawn and communicated to Field Officers of
Salt Department/Railways in Production Centres for facilitating movement
of iodised salt as per programme drawn. These programmes provide for
higher priority “C” Indent for preferential supply.
|
|
In
respect of movement of salt to other States, Deputy Salt Commissioner of the
Salt Department draw quarterly programmers under Priority “C” from
various production sources under their jurisdiction to consuming States.
The Internal distribution of wagon is done on prorata bases among salt
producers based on the stock held by them on a specified date (30th June
in respect of Salt Gujrat Salt Manufacture) In these programmes
Wagon Quota Distribution is made to the Salt Manufacturers based on the
stock available with them. In respect of Rajasthan it is distributed to the
iodised salt producers based on that approved iodisation capacity.
|
|
As
regards refined iodised salt for human consumption any refined salt
producer can move it by rail under priority “D” after countersignature
of the indent by authorized officer of Salt Department.
|
|
Annexure I
Government of India (Bharat Sarkar)
Ministry of Railways (Rail Mantralaya)
(Railway Board)
No.2005/TT-III/12/7 New Delhi, Dt. 17.1.2006
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Sub : Simplification of procedure
for registration of indents of salt rakes.
The undersigned is directed to say
that the attention of the Ministry of Railways (Railway Board) has been
engaged to over come the bottlenecks and delays in the process of
registration of indents for salt rakes by the State Nominee/Salt
Traders.
In the present days of
liberalization of policies, Ministry of Railways (Railway Board) has
decided that the following guidelines may be followed in respect of
registration of indents for salt rakes.
|
|
There
will be no requirement of issue of any Zonal Scheme for movement of salt
or sponsorship of salt traffic by the Salt Commissioner’s Office to the
Railway Board. All movement of salt will normally take place under
priority ‘D’ of Preferential Traffic Order of Indian Railways.
However, to get a higher priority for the movement of salt, Salt
Commissioner or his zonal offices can submit a programme to zonal
railways which on approval by the Zonal Railways, will take place under
priority ‘C’ of the Preferential Traffic Order of Indian Railways.
|
|
All
indents for salt for human consumption, be accompanied by a certificate
from the office of Salt Commissioner or his authorized agents,
specifying the following :-
a)
nature and category of salt – iodised – non iodised, refined or
non-refined etc.
b) quantity of salt
to be loaded ;
c) loading and
unloading stations ;
d)
name of the party ;
e)
period under which indents are to be placed ;
No indent for
human consumption salt rake will be accepted without the valid
certificate issued by the Salt Commissioner or his authorized agents.
|
|
Indents for industrial salt need not have any such certificate.
|
|
There
will no piecemeal movement of salt
|
|
It is proposed to
introduce the above procedure/system for sponsored traffic of indenting
and loading of salt traffic with effect from 1.4.2006 (as the current
Zonal Scheme is valid up to 31.3.2006) and in case of industrial salt
with immediate effect.
Instructions may please be issued to all concerned and
acknowledge receipt.
Note:-
Forwarding Note detailing the above particulars with an endorsement/countersignature by the Salt Commissioner or his authorized agent (s)
will also be accepted for placement indents.”
(
R.D. Tripathi )
Executive
Director, Traffic Trans (S)
Railway Board
(Annexure II).
The Secretary,
Ministry of Commerce and Industry,
Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion,
Udyog Bhavan,New Delhi.
|
| |
|
The
Ministry of Railways, Railway Board, New Delhi in their O.M. No.2005/TT-III/12/7
dated 17.1.2006 have issued fresh guidelines for registration of
indents for the movement of salt. According to this OM, their is no
requirement of issue of Zonal Scheme for movement of salt or sponsorship
of salt traffic by the Salt Commissioner to the Railway Board ; however
to get higher priority for the movement of salt, Salt Commissioner can
chalk out programme for the movement of salt to the various states from
the salt manufacturing centers. Similarly Railways have decided that
there is no need to issue programme for the movement of industrial salt
by rail.
|
|
Accordingly, it
has been decided that all Regional Officers would chalk out quarterly
programme for the movement of ordinary non refined iodised salt or non
refined salt for iodisation units for edible purposes under priority ‘C’
of the Preferential Traffic order of Railways and request the concerned
Zonal Railways to approve programme for the acceptance of indents at
various loading stations for the supply of wagons in terms of rakes. In
case of Rajasthan region programme would continue to be issued with the
approval of Deputy Salt Commissioner (NIDDCP), Jaipur. The programme for
the movement of salt to N.E. States, Sikkim, West Bengal & Orissa
(partly) where Nominee System is prevalent would be issued with the
approval of Salt Commissioner.
|
|
On our request,
the Ministry of Railways have made further changes in their letter dated
24.5.2006 according to which a declaration on the forwarding note by the
consigner indicating the information prescribed in their O.M. dated
17.1.2006 duly countersigned by the Salt Officer is sufficient to accept
indents. Further, their letter dated 29.5.2006 it has been stated that
graded concession in freight rates of ordinary non refined salt meant
for human consumption granted vide their circular dated 24.1.2006 has
been allowed based on the Forwarding Note countersigned by the Salt
Department.
|
|
It has been
observed that different procedures are being followed in different
regions for countersigning indents. It is therefore felt necessary to
issue fresh guidelines for the sake of uniformity. Accordingly, in
super cession to all previous instructions following guidelines are
issued which should be followed by all concerned to facilitate movement
of edible salt :
 |
There is no need to issue any programme for movement of industrial salt.
The Local Officers are not required to countersign forwarding note for
movement of industrial salt. However a watch to be kept on registration
of indents and details to be intimated to Salt Commissioner ate
immediately.
|
|
|
Movement
of refined/vacuum and other branded salt would move under priority ‘D’.
The local officer should countersign declaration given by the
refinery/vacuum salt manufacturer registered with the Salt Department on
forwarding notes only after verifying the quality etc. It should not be
in the form of a separate letter addressed to the Railways etc.
|
|
|
The Regional Officer should issue quarterly programme in form of rakes
consisting of 40 boxes covered wagons at least one week before
the commencement of that quarter i.e. programme for the period ending 30th
September should be issued before 22nd June. This would
enable Zonal Railways to issue instructions to their local officer and
indents for supply of wagon could be placed on the first day of that
quarter.
|
|
|
On receipt of
communication for the allotment of rakes at various loading stations for
a particular month/quarter from the Regional Office, the concerned Local
Officers shall immediately distribute the wagons amongst the salt
manufacturers/iodised salt manufacturers of the loading station as per
practice in vogue and exhibit the same on the notice board. This would
provide opportunity to the salt manufacturer to place indent on the
first day of the month if they so desire.
The manufacturers
shall place the indents with Railways with in a period of three days of
countersigning of indents or five days before the last date of
acceptance of indents, which ever is earlier.
|
|
|
On receipt of the
forwarding notes from the manufacturers, the countersigning authority,
shall draw samples from the iodised salt stock of the concerned
manufacturers and ensure that the entire quantity of salt for which
indents have been countersigned is checked and conforms to the quality
standard laid down under P.F.A. rules before loading in to wagons.
|
|
|
The countersigning authority should ensure that the Forwarding Note
contains all the relevant particulars mentioned in Railway Board
circulars dated 17.1.2006 or subsequent amendment made if any.
|
|
|
If any of the manufacturers to whom wagon quota is allotted, does not
turn up before the stipulated date for countersignature of indents or
does not register it with in the prescribed limit, his share of wagon
quota may be distributed amongst the rest of the manufacturers attached
to that loading station. In case of state nominees, where two or more
parties are clubbed to form a rake, it may be distributed among the
remaining parties of that clubbed rake as indicated in the programme
approved by the Salt Commissioner.
|
|
|
The Local Officer should ensure that all relevant information pertaining
to quality and quantity of salt, batch no., date/month of manufacture
etc. as communicated to the iodisation plant holder while according
permission for commercial manufacture of iodised salt, are printed on
the HDPE Bags, used for packing of iodised salt.
|
|
|
So far as movement of salt under sponsored programme is concerned, the
terms and conditions stipulated in the respective programme should be
scrupulously followed.
|
|
|
Salt samples may also be drawn at the time of loading of the rakes and
analyzed immediately for checking the quality of salt being loaded. In
case that salt is found to be sub-standard, the Chief District Medical
Officer of the concerned district should be informed by telegram/fax
about the movement of sub-standard iodised salt to the district, for
necessary action endorsing a copy of the said letter to the concerned
Circle/Divisional/Regional Officer. No indents to be further
countersigned against the defaulter.
|
|
|
On receipt of report
from the local officer a show cause notice for suspension/cancellation
of registration may be issue by the Regional Officer to such delinquent
salt producers. A suitable decision to revoke suspension of registration
or its cancellation may be taken by the Regional officer after granting
them hearing and recording a speaking order.
|
|
|
The local officers should furnish a monthly return to Regional office
under intimation to the Salt Commissioner indicating therein numbers of
indents countersigned by them, indents registered, wagons supplied,
forfeited/cancelled and pending with oldest date of registration for ‘C’
and ‘D’ priorities as per the format .
|
|