Two employees of fair price shops at Washermenpet and Korukkupet here were suspended after Food Minister E.V. Velu found irregularities during surprise inspections of shops and storage yards across the district on Thursday.
The supervisor of the fair price shop at Washermenpet was suspended following complaints from consumers during the inspection.
Inspection teams comprising four officers were sent to fair price shops in 16 zones for checking the supplies and obtaining feedback from consumers.
The teams inspected the shops at Washermenpet, Royapuram, Korukkupet, Manali Road, Mylapore and Nandanam. Later, reviewing the performance of department officials at a meeting, Mr. Velu said all fair price shops must sport the same colour to facilitate easy identification by people.
Measures should be taken to construct buildings for 251 shops and those with over 1,600 ration card holders should be bifurcated, he said.
New ration cards must be supplied within 60 days and changes in ration cards must be done the same day.
He warned that those smuggling ration items in buses to Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh would be severely punished.
Principal Secretary (Food and Consumer Protection) to the State Government Swaran Singh was present during the meeting.
