The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : FPS dealers told to give details of bogus cards

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Tuesday, Feb 23, 2010
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

FPS dealers told to give details of bogus cards

FPS dealers told to give details of bogus cards

Agriculture Minister N. Raghuveera Reddy warns traders and dealers against hoarding urea

‘Efforts initiated to weed out bogus ration cards’
Survey on to ascertain number of bogus cards

HYDERABAD: The Civil Supplies Department has directed fair price shop (FPS) dealers to voluntarily disclose the details of bogus ration cards, if any, existing in their purview.

Civil Supplies Minister J. Krishna Rao warned the dealers that stringent action would be initiated against those indulging in irregularities and the government had decided to effectively utilise the services of the vigilance and enforcement wing to clamp down on the lapses. The Minister was addressing a meeting of the Joint Collectors organised here on Monday.

He said efforts had been initiated to weed out bogus ration cards in a transparent manner. The government had ordered a survey of ration cards to ascertain the number of bogus cards, but it was not aimed at reducing the cards issued to genuine beneficiaries.

Card online

The Minister said the department would forthwith issue ration cards online through eSeva and Rajiv Internet kiosks in addition to introducing the smart card system in place of coupons. While it was proposed to obtain cell phone numbers of all the cardholders under FP shops to disseminate information on availability of commodities through SMS, efforts were also underway to set up a toll free number enabling consumers to lodge their complaints.

Pilot project

The department had introduced online booking of gas cylinders in the Twin Cities and Ranga Reddy district on a pilot basis and the facility would be extended to other districts in phased manner, he added.

‘Raid godowns’

Agriculture Minister N. Raghuveera Reddy has warned traders and dealers against hoarding urea or selling it at a higher price by taking advantage of the recent announcement by the Union government enhancing the price from April 1.

He asked the officials to raid godowns and visit retail outlets daily to prevent hoarding and build confidence among farmers.

Reviewing agriculture-related issues with the Joint Collectors and officials of the Agriculture Department, AP Seeds Development Corporation, Markfed and HACA through a video-conference at the Secretariat on Monday, the Minister also asked them to build a buffer stock of one lakh tonnes of urea and DAP each for the next kharif season.

Crop loans

Mr. Reddy grilled officials for covering only 69 per cent of the crop loans given to farmers with ‘pavala vaddi’ (interest subsidy) so far and instructed them to continue rescheduling these loans till sowing of kharif crops instead of up to March 31.

Special Chief Secretary (Agriculture) Rachel Chatterjee clarified that crop loans must be rescheduled regardless of the repayment of term-loans taken for other purchases like purchase of machinery. ‘Pavala vaddi’ was not applicable to term loans.

He regretted that only 55 per cent of the Rs. 9,400 crore credit planned for disbursement for rabi had been achieved so far and sought steps to achieve full target as the season was half way through.

He also directed officials to allow loans and input subsidy to tenants as well.

The Centre agreed to provide 34.25 lakh tonnes of fertilizer to the State for kharif season whereas seeds worth Rs. 200 crore were being readied at the State level, the Minister said.

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