Ration shop sealed after surprise inspection by Delhi Minister

NEW DELHI: Food and Civil Supplies minister Imran Hussain on Thursday ordered sealing of a ration shop, which was found shut in a surprise inspection in east Delhi. "A Fair Price Shop (FPS) in Pandav Nagar was sealed after it was found closed during working hours and locals complained that the shop usually opens during evenings," a government official said. The Minister also found the FPS not displaying outside its premises, the mandatory information for the benefit and guidance of ration beneficiaries.

"The Minister directed the accompanying Food Department team to seal the premises immediately for the FPS dealer's failure to comply with the Department's directions causing inconvenience to the ration beneficiaries," the government said in a statement. At two other shops, the dealers were found selling atta (flour) in violation of the norms and provisions of National Food Security Act, 2013 –which allows selling of wheat, rice and coarse grains.

"At one of these shop, the FPS dealer was also found issuing bills/cash memos for rice which the beneficiaries were not taking," the statement said.

Another FPS was found in unhygienic conditions. "The wheat grains were scattered all over the shop," the statement added. Noting the grave irregularities being committed on the part of FPS dealers, the Minister directed the F&S Department to conduct a thorough enquiry into the matter.