The Hindu : Licences of 12 ration shops cancelled

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jul 08, 2003

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Licences of 12 ration shops cancelled

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI JULY 7 . In a major crackdown on adulteration of petrol, kerosene and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), the Food and Supplies Department of the Delhi Government has lodged FIRs against four gas agencies and two petrol pumps and sealed two godowns for illegally stocking 2.8 lakh litres of solvent used for adulteration in petrol. Licences of around 12 Fair Price Shops (FPS) have also been cancelled as they either did not have the required stocks meant for supply to people Below Poverty Line (BPL) or had sold them in black market.

Highlighting the high incidence of adulteration in these products and sale of foodgrains meant for poor in the black market, the special raiding teams of the Department found that serious violations were being indulged in by the people concerned. In many instances, it was found that foodgrains under the Antodaya and BPL schemes of the Central Government were either not reaching the people or were being sold at a higher rate. This has lent credibility to the charge of the Delhi BJP that rations released under these two schemes were not reaching the people and were rather being sold in the black market under the patronage of the political authority.

For instance, when the special squads of the Department raided the four gas agencies, it was shocked to find that the employees of these agencies were openly taking out gas from the sealed cylinders.

Four FIRs have been lodged against the concerned owners and four people have been arrested in this connection. Similarly, the Department has sealed to unauthorised godowns of solvents and other petroleum products at Shahbad Daulatpur and Moti Nagar.

These godowns had stored 2.8 lakh litres of solvent used for adulteration in petrol. In another case, two petrol pumps, from where samples were lifted, were found to be selling adulterated petrol. The Department has lodged FIRs against the two owners of these pumps and have also written to the concerned oil companies to take action including termination of allotment.

The special squads also suspended licenses of six FPSs in New Delhi Zone, three each in South West Zone and South Zone and one kerosene depot. The department has also lodged an FIR and also announced that they will now be allowed variation of 50 litres and 50 kg in the stocks against the earlier stipulation of 100 litres and 100 kg. These steps have been taken to ensure compliance of the directions of Supreme Court given from time to time.

But what has come as a surprise and could cause embarrassment to the Government is the fact that raids revealed that the foodgrain schemes meant for the poor and downtrodden are not reaching to the targeted groups.

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