Bengaluru: Minister for Food and Civil Supplies U T Khader on Tuesday cautioned below poverty line (BPL) ration cardholders against depositing black money, which was given by others, in their bank accounts.
Speaking to media persons here, Minister Khader said the BPL ration cardholders should not accept black money from others and deposit it in their bank accounts. “Some rich people may entice BPL ration cardholders to deposit black money in their bank accounts to convert it into white. They offer some commission to the BPL ration cardholders but I want to caution the latter against it since there are chances of upgrading their status to above poverty line (APL) from below poverty line (BPL) thus not qualifying to avail benefits under various schemes,’’ Khader said.
On scarcity of salt
The minister said there was no shortage for salt in the state and appealed the public not to get panic about availability of salt in the state. He said the food and civil supplies department officials have inspected 126 retail and wholesale shops across the state and found 15 of them indulging in hoarding of salt. “The food and civil supplies department officials have registered cases against the 15 businessmen for hoarding salt. Now, we have fixed the limit for stocking salt, sugar, pulses and edible oil. The wholesaler can stock only 1,000 quintals of salt and retailer 100 quintals. The food and civil supplies department officials will register complaints against those violating the norms,’’ the minister said.
Electronic weighing machines
The minister said the department of legal metrology would manage electronic weighing machines at various malls and hypermarkets across the state for the benefit of consumers. “Electronic weighing machines will be installed in front of 1013 malls and hypermarkets, including 638 places in Bengaluru, across the state. This initiative is expected to create awareness among the consumers and caution the businesspersons cheating the consumers,’’ the minister said.
He said the state government would take measures to fill up 210 vacancies in the department of legal metrology.
Truckers’ strike
The minister said the food and civil supplies department has made alternative arrangements to ensure uninterrupted supply of food grains to the fair price shops. “We have already in touch with the Deputy Commissioners of the respective districts in this regard. We have advised them to make alternative arrangements to supply food grains to the fair price shops. Most of the truckers have been supplying food grains in other districts except in Bengaluru,’’ he said.
