12,000 litres PDS kerosene seized on way to blackmarket

The Food and Civil Supplies Department late on Friday night seized 12,000 litres of kerosene worth Rs 16.59 lakh being sold in the blackmarket.

The Food and Civil Supplies Department late on Friday night seized 12,000 litres of kerosene worth Rs 16.59 lakh being sold in the blackmarket. Following a tip off,officers moved into action to catch the driver red-handed while emptying his tanker into another tanker.

We had received information that the driver had changed his route from Loni Kalbhor to Lonikhand when he was supposed to deliver the kerosene to the fair price shop in the city, said food distribution officer Dyaneshwar Jwanjal who has recently taken over from Pradeep Patil. Jwanjal,who led the raiding team,said they had received information and wasted no time and acted swiftly. It was a big haul. We fortunately caught the driver in action and have registered a complaint, said Jwanjal.

This year,PDS officials have cancelled licences of seven suppliers,suspended one and penalised four traders. While in fair price shops,five of the shop licences were cancelled,one trader suspended and three shopkeepers penalised. This year till April,Rs 18,000 worth material has been seized.

Last year,the department had cancelled licences of 28 kerosene shops,suspended six and penalised 44. Some 48 licences for fair price shops were cancelled,seven suspended and 26 shop owners penalised with material seized worth Rs 1.37 lakh.

With raids against black-marketing to continue,Jwanjal said the team has been mobilised for such surprise raids.

Unless punitive action is taken and licences cancelled,there wont be any improvement. We need to conduct such raids so that there is transparency in the public distribution system.

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