The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Old city to get 10 more photo location centres

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Mar 23, 2006

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Old city to get 10 more photo location centres

J.S. Ifthekhar

Collector denies corruption in issue of ration cards

Hyderabad: Another 10 Designated Photo Location (DPL) centres will become operational in old city by Monday. The district authorities have decided to open five centres in the Karwan Assembly constituency, three in Yakhutpura and two in Chandrayangutta constituency. Opening of these centres have been delayed by private service providers on account of problems at their end.

At present seven DPL centres are functioning in Karwan, five in Yakhutpura and eight in Chandryangutta Assembly constituencies.

As on March 21 a total of 4,32,353 ration cards have been issued in the twin cities. Of this 3,03,236 are pink cards, 1,25,711 white, 3,380 Antodya Anna Yojana and 26 Annapurna cards.

So for 3.19 lakh applications seeking white cards have been received. Of this 1.97 lakh applications have been verified while enquiry of 1.21 lakh applications is in progress.

April 30 deadline

The authorities are confident of completing the issue of ration cards in the city by April 30. When the exercise ends the number of white ration cards are expected to go up from the present 2.5 lakh to 3 lakh while the overall number of cards might register a fall. As against the existing 10.5 lakh cards the final tally might be just 8.5 lakh, said district Collector Arvind Kumar.

He said there was not much enthusiasm among the affluent sections to seek pink cards. Many of them do not see any utility of the pink cards as they have other forms of identification.

Till date about 8 lakh declaration forms have been distributed. Those who couldn't obtain ration cards in areas which are already covered can approach the DPL centres with some kind of proof and obtain the cards. They need not wait for a second serving of notice, Mr. Kumar said.

He denied allegation of corruption in issue of white ration cards. Two DPL staffers in old city who were found to be issuing white cards without enquiry were suspended. A superintendent of the Chief Rationing Officer was monitoring the issue of cards at DPL centre (20) in Old City where there was allegations of irregularities.

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