Bengaluru: The state government is contemplating to enact a law for the seizure of property of rich people for having Below Poverty Line (BPL) ration cards illegally, according to Minister for Food and Civil Supplies U T Khader.

Speaking with media persons here on Wednesday, Minister Khader said the BPL ration cards are meant for the poor and needy families living below poverty line, but some rich people get these BPL cards illegally. “The applicants have to submit an affidavit to local bodies stating that they belong to below poverty line families. If found that the applicants have violated the norms to avail the BPL ration cards, the authorities will seize their property. I came to know that some influential people are availing the BPL ration cards despite the authorities taking measures to prevent its misuse. Such people are aware that they are not eligible for the BPL ration cards, but they get it by submitting fake documents. I came to know that some rich farmers also possess the BPL ration cards. Now it has become inevitable for the government to enact a law to prevent the misuse of BPL ration cards. The government welfare schemes should reach the needy and poor families and not the rich people,’’ the minister said.

UTK to meet Union Minister

The food and civil supplies minister plans to meet Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan to discuss about the implementation of Ujala scheme in the state. “Though the Central Government has announced Ujala scheme to supply one LPG cylinder to every poor family long ago, the scheme is yet to be implemented in Karnataka. There is no clarity on the implementation of this scheme in the state. The Central Government announced to give one LPG cylinder each to 42 lakh BPL families in the state. Among the 1.08 crore BPL families, 23 lakh families have LPG cylinders. The Central Government wants to supply one LPG cylinder each to 42 lakh BPL families. What about the remaining BPL families?’’ the minister asked.

He said that one LPG cylinder would not be sufficient to each of the BPL families in cities. “We have decided to supply a 5-kg LPG cylinder to each of the BPL families in cities,’’ the minister said.

Stating that he had not received any reply from the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas on the supply of LPG cylinders in the rural areas, the minister said the state government plans to supply one LPG cylinder each to BPL families in rural areas.