Bengaluru: The state government is contemplating the option of cancelling private fair price shops across the state to prevent the pilferage of foodgrains, according to Minister for Food and Civil Supplies U T Khader.

Speaking with media persons, Minister Khader said the food and civil supplies department has implemented various methods to prevent the pilferage of foodgrains at fair price shops but in vain. “The officials of food and civil supplies have detected 1,60,000 duplicate food coupons. Most of these duplicate food coupons were generated by private fair price shops. There are 400 such fair price shops in Bengaluru alone among the total 953 fair price shops where irregularities were reported,” Minister Khader said.

The minister said the food and civil supplies department want to implement Chattisgar model where all the fair price shops are maintained by the state government. “A final decision will be taken after discussing with the chief minister,” the minister said.

The minister said two people were arrested and criminal cases were registered against two more people for generating duplicate food coupons. “The departmental enquiry has been ordered to probe the involvement other fair price shops in this scam. We will take suitable action after receiving the report. We will direct the respective district administration to cancel the licences of those private fair price shops involved in generating duplicate food coupons. There are around 20,000 fair price shops in the state and among them 60 per cent are owned by private people,” the minister said.

5 kg LPG cylinder

The minister said the state government has decided to supply 5 kg LPG cylinder free of cost to the beneficiaries in urban areas under ujjwala scheme. “The beneficiaries in urban areas can avail either a gas stove or 5 kg LPG cylinder. The beneficiaries in rural areas will have the option to avail either 5 kg LPG cylinder or solar lantern or a gas stove,’’ the minister said.

New ration cards

The minister said the food and civil supplies department has been trying to streamline the process to issue new ration cards but it is being delayed due to some technical problems. “We are making some arrangements to issue new ration cards on a priority basis for those, especially suffering from cancer or other diseases that need treatment immediately, who have to produce ration cards for various purposes,’’ the minister said.