Steps to regulate PDS commodities

Five enforcement teams formed in Civil Supplies Department to check diversion of commodities

The Civil Supplies Department has formed enforcement wing with five teams to check irregularities, including diversion of subsidised commodities to the black market.

Giving the appointment letters to the officials posted in the enforcement wing here on Sunday, Commissioner of Civil Supplies C.V. Anand stated that the wing was created following the decision taken at the board meeting held in November last. Each team of the enforcement wing would consist of four retired officials drawn from police, commercial taxes, revenue departments and Food Corporation of India, since there was shortage of manpower within the department.

The enforcement wing was established to improve the prestige of the Civil Supplies Department in the eyes of people. The main activities of the Civil Supplies Corporation were procurement of paddy under Minimum Support Price operations, milling of paddy under custom milling of rice, procurement of superfine variety rice from millers for supply to government hostels and schools under mid-day-meal scheme and rice for public distribution system, he said.

Shortage of staff

Although the annual turnover of the Corporation was about ₹10,000 crore, shortage of staff had been a major hindrance in its efficient functioning. The enforcement wing would book cases under the Essential Commodities Act on diversion of PDS commodities.

In spite of measures being taken to control diversion of commodities, such irregularities were still taking place, though there was some improvement during the last two months.

Officials for the enforcement teams were taken on contract basis for a period of one year. Each team would be headed by a retired Superintendent of Police with one retired Tahsildar, one retired DCTO/ACTO and one Inspector/Sub-Inspector. The team were also being provided with a hired vehicle each and the teams would be supervised by retired SP K. Sampath Kumar, who also heads the team in the headquarters covering Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy, Medchal and Vikarabad districts.

The expenditure on the enforcement wing would be met from the administrative charges being allowed as per the CMR costing sheet of the Centre.