Bengaluru: From tomorrow, ration cardholders will have to get their monthly quota within the first 15 days of the month. The depots have been told to dedicate the second half of the month only for stock-taking and balance-closing in a bid to keep a strict tab on their transactions, according to Food and Civil Supplies Minister U T Khader.

The minister said ration cardholders would lose their quota for the month if they do not buy them by the 15th. He said it was becoming difficult to get the exact statistics related to quantum of ration that has remained unsold from each depot on time. This was coming in the way of proper planning on the quantum of ration to be transported to the depots the next month.

In extraneous circumstances where there is a delay in supplying ration from the Food Department, the Deputy Commissioners of districts would be empowered to extend ration distribution till the 25th of the month, he said.

Meanwhile, the State government has simplified the process of obtaining BPL ration cards. Instead of the earlier system of submitting four documents along with the application, people just have to submit income certificates along with the application, the Minister said.

The income of the applicants should not exceed Rs. 1.2 lakh a year, he said. Food Department officials will conduct a random check and book cheating cases against applicants who furnish fake income certificates, he warned.