Hyderabad: Fake PDS dealers warned

Hyderabad: The civil supplies department has begun a  crackdown on benami ration dealers, some of whom are running as many as 20 ration shops each. Apart from earning a hefty commission, these benamis divert PDS stocks to the open market and make money.

Civil supplies commissioner C.V. Anand said a special drive has been launched to check and eliminate benami dealers, first in the GHMC and then in the rest of the state.

At a meeting on Thursday, Mr Anand directed officials to use technology and conduct raids to detect the benamis.

Five teams from civil supplies enforcement and task force have been formed to conduct inspections.

Officials aid 179 out of 1,545 ration shops in the GHMC limits were not functioning for a variety of reasons; the dealerships had been transferred against norms.

Mr Anand issued orders to officials to take steps to rationalise the distribution of ration cards among the shops. He said notices would be issued to dealers who are on long leave. Ration cards will  be cancelled if the beneficiary was not taking commodities for six months.

Action plan

• All ration  shops should be inspected by area inspectors.
• Circle offices and the inspector should verify licence.
• Civil supplies officers will cross-check dealer authorisations within 10 days.
• In Hyderabad 75 per cent of data entry of ration dealers in ePDS website completed.
• Ration shops must function between 8 am and 12 noon and 4 pm to 8 pm.