The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : 3-month deadline for ration cards distribution

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Friday, Oct 24, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

3-month deadline for ration cards distribution

Special Correspondent

Chief Minister insists on use of Iris technology, claiming it to be foolproof

Asks Civil Supplies officials to attend public grievances on day-to-day basis
Super fine rice available at Rs. 20 a kg in open market, says Finance Minister

HYDERABAD: Chief Minister Y. S. Rajsekhara Reddy has set a three-month deadline for the Civil Supplies Department to complete the task of distributing ration cards to families that have not received them so far.

Reviewing Civil Supplies issues here on Thursday, Dr. Reddy said Iris technology, under which eyes of the beneficiaries are scanned, must be used as it was foolproof and would check duplication.

He asked Civil Supplies officials to attend the public grievances on day-to-day basis while distributing new cards.

Finance Minister K. Rosaiah, who spoke to reporters later, asserted that that super fine rice was available at Rs. 20 a kg even in the open market, contrary to claims by the critics.

He denied that he had made an attempt to shift a top Vigilance & Enforcement official to save rice millers for a pecuniary benefit. He launched a tirade against the management of a Telugu newspaper for making this allegation “as part of its programme to serialise anti-government charges targeting Ministers this time”.

‘Baseless charge’

At a separate press conference, Civil Supplies Minister K. Venkatakrishna Reddy joined the tirade against the paper, citing a “baseless charge” made against him that he had diverted some fertilizer. He said all he did was obtain one rake of fertilizer for Guntur district as there was a shortage.

He said he hailed from a family known for clean politics, and by continuing the tradition, he indeed, made Narasaraopet area in the district free from violence.

LPG supply

He said LPG cylinders would be supplied within six days of consumers applying, from November 1. A commitment to this effect was made by oil companies.

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Andhra Pradesh