CAG flags ‘suspicious’ PDS deliveries: ‘244 quintals in car, 300 on 3-wheeler’

The CAG said that wholesale contract transporters are required to obtain the authorisation of the Department of Food and Civil Supplies for vehicles to be used in wholesale transportation along with maintenance of the vehicle as per the conditions of contract. “Audit test checked 2,510 truck chits in seven districts and found that in 1,725 trips, transportation of foodgrains was carried out in vehicles not authorised by the department,” it said.

As per the report, which covered the period 2017-22, a quantity of 244.20 quintals of foodgrains was claimed to be transported in a single trip using Tata Indica (V2) under the Hanumanthanagar Wholesale Depot (WSD), while 492.20 quintals of foodgrains were shown as transported in two trips of Maruti 800 Omni.

It also gives instances of transportation of 277.69 quintals and 281.29 quintals of foodgrains in two trips using a Tata Ace EX BS3 minitruck under Banashankari Wholesale Depot. “The carrying capacity of these mini trucks was 7.5 quintals only,” the report said.

“The claims of the transporters in delivering 4,014.44 quintals of foodgrains using (the) above passenger vehicles is highly suspicious and the same could not be vouched in audit. The Department failed to disallow the transportation costs claimed by the transporters, as the possibility of delivering such huge quantities is highly impossible considering their carrying capacities. The reply of the Government is silent about the audit findings,” the report said.

“Audit observed that though the transporters submitted the list of vehicles to be used in transportation, they also resorted to usage of vehicles which were not authorised/not in the list of vehicles as per contract agreement. Further, the godown manager of WSD failed to ensure that the essential commodities are delivered by the authorised trucks listed out in the contract agreement. Consequently, the contractors submitted claims against the consignments made in unauthorised vehicles which were allowed by the Department…,” the CAG said.

Highlighting the risks from alleged lack of hygiene at WSDs levels, it said, “Audit observed that poor maintenance of WSDs increased the risk of contamination and pest infestation of foodgrains leading to loss and degraded foodgrain quality… The Department stated that no provision was made towards handling losses and wastages. In the absence of proper set criteria for accounting of handling losses and wastages, the audit could not quantify the losses on this account.”

The report had 2 photographs showing alleged improper maintenance of WSDs titled — “stray pigs at KFCSC Raichur (main WSD)” and “infested rice bags at KFCSC Mandya (U)”. Sharing the government’s response to the findings, it said, “The State Government replied (April 2023) that Karnataka Food and Civil Supplies Corporation Limited (KFCSC) was directed to forward proposals for improvement of Wholesale Depots based on the standard and good warehousing practices.”