Fair price shops set for total overhaul

HYDERABAD: After many raids by the Vigilance and Enforcement wing on fair price shops in the twin cities, the civil supplies department has planned to rationalise the shops. In June, the state government has given an order to the department to rationalise FPSs in the city and bring modifications to curb illegal practices and make sure all goods are reaching the poor, said KRBHN Chakravarthy, director, civil supplies department. The CSD has submitted a proposal for rationalisation of shops last week, he added.Presently, 802 out of 975 fair price shops are functioning and we will announce a tender notification in 10 days for 81 new shops and the remaining 90 FPSs will be merged with the nearest shops, he added. However, some residents complained that merging shops will create problems, as there is 3 to 4 km distance between two shops and also increase the burden on the single shop. Speaking about grievances of the public, Chakravarthy said the department will rework soon on rationalisation of the existing fair price shops.Assistant supply officer C Padma said only 802 shops were working, as rest of the shops are under suspension or sealed due to cancellation of licences, expiry of dealership, death of some shop owners and some withdrawing their ownership. “It is easy to close seized shops permanently instead of working to re-open them,” she added.There are two kinds of rations cards- white ration cards for BPL families, through which they get 10 kg of rice free and pink ration cards for people above the poverty line. The total card holders in the city are 12.5 lakh. The FPSs issue rice, wheat, sugar, palm oil, red grams and kerosene.