The government has decided to resume supply of essential commodities through public distribution system to nearly 6 lakh family card holders in the city, for whom non-supply of the commodities had been ordered as they were found to be bogus card holders, according to an order issued by Swaran Singh, Principal Secretary, Co-operation, Food and Consumer Protection Department.
The government had stopped PDS supply to 5,97,111 family card holders after a survey in 15 zones of the city.
The government was in the process of scrutinising appeals. Deficiencies in the survey had been brought to its notice.
In view of staff shortage in offices in Chennai, the department had deployed, for door-to-door survey, employees who were involved in paddy procurement in Thanjauvr, Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam districts.
On appeal by affected persons, an enquiry had revealed that the survey did not cover all dwelling units in apartments.
Several slum-dwellers, who were normally present in their houses only during night, had been left out. Similarly, the survey was not properly conducted to cover office-goers and those who often changed residences. Some slum dwellers were even unaware that they could appeal after the PDS supply was stopped, the order stated.
Considering all these factors, the government has asked the Civil Supplies Commissioner to conduct a fresh survey of family card holders and complete it by March 31. Pending completion of the survey, the cardholders would be given the commodities as per their entitlement.
