Keep enough stock in PDS shops, Sellur Raju to officials
CHENNAI: Cooperatives Minister Sellur K Raju on Tuesday directed the department staff and ration shop storekeepers to stock adequate materials as the monsoon is active across the state. Sellur Raju, who conducted a review meeting with the top officials of the cooperatives department urged the senior officials to coordinate with the district collectors and assure that there is no delay in transportation of essential provision items from warehouse to ration shops. The officials should identify ration shops in low lying areas prone for flooding and should look out for alternate sites, where the essential provision items like rice, kerosene, salt, sugar, candles and pulses can be distributed to the public. The department should depute nodal officers for the public to register their grievances and the contact number of such nodal officers should be displayed at all ration shops, the Minister said. The Minister also advised the officials in hilly terrain and flood-prone areas to stock tarpaulin, wooden blocks, sandbags and torches to assure that the provision items are protected from waterlogging. In case of ration shops or residential colonies inundated by floods, the officials should have an alternate action plan to distribute provisions, the Minister said. Dayanand Kataria, secretary, cooperatives and consumer supply department also took part in the review meeting.