The Hindu : Villupuram Collector orders suspension of two officials

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jan 11, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Villupuram Collector orders suspension of two officials

By Our Special Correspondent

VILLUPURAM, JAN. 10. The Villupuram Collector, K. Gopal, today detected a subtle form of pilferage in the rice bags meant for the public distribution system. He ordered suspension of the Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation Superintendent, Ilavaluthi, and the quality control officer, Nagarajan.

When Mr. Gopal was proceeding towards Ginjee to inspect development works, he sighted a lorry carrying rice bags. He asked the vehicle to halt and found workers carrying the hook meant for lifting the bags.

On suspicion, the Collector climbed on to the lorry and asked the workmen to unload the bags. He found heaps of rice, weighing at least 20 kg, spilt from the bags because of the use of the hooks.

The Collector also found empty gunny bags to scoop up the spilt rice. None of the bags had the mandatory 11 stitches, but had got only six stitches. The number of stitches had been deliberately kept low so that rice would fall through the gaps.

Mr. Gopal told the workmen that the hooks were banned six months ago, and still they were handling the tools with an ulterior motive.

He issued a warning that if hooks were used by anybody while transporting the rice consignments to ration shops and noon meal centres, stringent action would be taken against them.

Later, when the Collector visited Palapattu , he found a ration shop there closed.

The residents complained to him that the salesman, Varadarajan, was opening the shop once in 10 days only. He placed him under suspension along with the Cooperative Sub-Registrar.

The Collector told the salesmen that they should display the board stating the working days and timings in the shops.

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