Licenses of two fair price shops cancelled due to non-compliance

NEW DELHI: Delhi Food and Civil Supplies Minister Imran Hussain on Wednesday suspended the license of two fair price shops (FPS) in Mangolpuri area and registered FIR against one.

On Wednesday, the Minister conducted a surprise inspection of FPS, to ensure the compliance of guidelines and norms by FPS dealers for delivery of specified food articles (SFAS) to ration card holders in Delhi.

During the inspection, the FPS in L- Block, Mangolpuri, was found closed.

The FPS shop was supposed to be open on weekdays from 9.00 am to 1.00 am and 3.00 am and the owner was also not available.

More than 100 women ration beneficiaries assembled at the site during the inspection and complained about the regular misbehavior of the FPS owner.

The beneficiaries claimed that the FPS owner reportedly used intimidating language with them and also delayed distribution of ration on several instances.

The beneficiaries also pointed out various irregularities and shortcomings being committed by the FPS owners while distributing SFAS under the Public Distribution System.

The FPS owner reportedly even tried to misbehave with enforcement staff.

The Minister then issued directions to the Commissioner of Food and Civil Supplies to seek explanation from the concerned officials.

At present, more than 72.78 lakh beneficiaries are covered for drawing ration as per entitlement in Delhi.

The Food and Supplies Department has issued guidelines from time to time, in order to ensure that targeted ration beneficiaries get their due amount of SFAS in time and also to ensure prevention of undesirable activities by unscrupulous FPS dealers.

The Food and Civil Supplies Department of the Delhi Government is responsible for effective implementation of National Food Security (NFS) Act, 2013.

The law authorises the department to keep all the records of FPS authorities and, if needed, it can put penalties against them.

According to the existing law, the Department has the right to cancel the license of the authorities.