Govt agrees to clear dues to ration dealers by cheques

 ​Hyderabad: The State government decided to clear the pending increased commission dues in the form of cheques to ration dealers. The government will hand over the cheques in 15 government working days. The government had increased commission rate from Rs 20 to Rs 70 per quintal to ration dealers. It also decided to pay all the dues pending from the implementation of National Food Security Act on October 1, 2015 to August 31, 2018.

Commissioner for Civil Supplies Department Akun Sabharwal held a review meeting with district Civil Supplies Corporation Officers and Civil Supplies Department Managers on Saturday, at Civil Supplies Bhavan on speedy process of clearance of dues to ration dealers. He stated that there are 17,029 ration shops in the State. Akun Sabharwal directed the officers to collect district wise data of ration dealers without any delay and details of how much each dealer is to be paid. 

Ration dealers will be given cheques for their outstanding dues in district headquarters in the presence of people representatives. He said, at present, there are 1,026 ration shops vacant, 227 shops vacant due to rationalisation and with formation of new gram panchayats 1,626 new FP shops are vacant. In total 2879 FP shops should be filled, he added. Following the new guidelines issued by the District Collectors new Ration Shops should be established. 

The Commissioner said that there are a number of applications pending for new food security cards. Officer should clear the inspection soon and issue it to eligible beneficiaries. In districts like Hyderabad, Medchal, Karimnagar, Vikarabad, Nalgonda, Nizamabad, Jagitial, Siddipet, Rangareddy number of applications are pending. Officers should take necessary steps to clear them immediately.