The district administration has estimated that there will be around one lakh bogus ration cards, out of 11 lakh cards in the district. Officials also found as many as five bogus Fair Price (FP) shops functioning in the district.
“More than 10 per cent of the total number of ration cards may be bogus,” Krishna District Collector Babu A. said. He, however, did not divulge details, saying the administration was probing the matter.
FP dealers being monitored
Addressing a press conference here on Friday, Mr. Babu said the implementation of ePOS (electronic Point of Sale) at some Fair Price (FP) shops had helped the administration identify bogus cards and to keep a tab on FP shop dealers.
“It is a fact that essential commodities such as rice and kerosene were being diverted whenever card holders failed to buy their quota from FP shops. According to rules, dealers should open shops by 8 a.m. But, through this facility [ePOS], it was found that some of them did not open shops on time,” he said, adding: “Dealers violating rules will be brought to book.”
The Collector said the technical glitches that had developed during the implementation of e-POS system had been sorted out. “There was no room now for pleas,” he said, adding: “We will implement ePOS in full spirit.”
More machines soon
The government has implemented ePOS at as many as 511 FP shops across the district. The remaining 1,638 shops will get the machines by April, he said.
Joint Collector Gandham Chandrudu was also present.
