Surprise checks at kerosene outlets

Foolproof system:Kumuda Sharath, Deputy Director of Food and Civil Supplies Department, led the checks on kerosene outlets in Mandya and Maddur taluks on Wednesday.

The Department of Food and Civil Supplies has launched a special drive to prevent pilferage of kerosene and malpractices at kerosene selling shops/fair price shops in the district.

Kumuda Sharath, Deputy Director of the department, and a few other officials conducted a surprise visit to several shops in Mandya and Maddur taluks on Wednesday.

The team members checked the documents, verified seals and stamps of materials used to measure kerosene and interacted with the ration card holders. No malpractices or irregularities were found during the visits. Ms. Sharath, however, has instructed the retailers not to collect more money from the customers to sell the Public Distribution System (PDS) products.The department will initiate action against the sellers if they violate conditions, she told

The Hindu. “The department will conduct regular checks to stop pilfering and black marketing...,” she said.

The department is supplying 1,600 KL of kerosene a month to PDS beneficiaries through 726 fair price shops and 211 kerosene dealers in the district.