2 weeks Ago
Bengaluru: The comptroller and auditor general (CAG) in its recent report on the public distribution system (PDS) of Karnataka has made a scathing attack on the food and civil supplies department for "not identifying" the possible diversion of food grains and ignoring the poor infrastructure in which the food grains were stored before being distributed to the general public. In Sept 2022, the CAG conducted a joint physical verification along with the food and civil supplies department at Sujatha Stores, Padma (Hanumanthnagar WSP) and noticed that 75 quintals rice and another 75 quintals of ragi were issued to the fair price shop for distribution to the beneficiaries during Sept 2022. In addition, the fair price shop (FPS) had a closing balance of rice and ragi of previous month to the tune of 4.
3 quintals and 1.1 quintals respectively, totalling to 155.4 quintals of both the food grains.
However, when the audit physically verified the stock available in the FPS as on Sept 3, 2022, it only found 126 quintal foodgrains against 155.4 quintals with a shortage of 29.4 quintals (rice 12.
8 and ragi 16.2 quintals). Further, it observed that the shortage noticed on Sept 3 were recouped/ replaced and the closing balance was made good as per the sales invoice and closing stock of 155.
4 quintals by the licensee. Based on this, the CAG opined: "This indicates the FPS licensees are diverting the stock received and the possibility of replacing the stock with sub-standard and pilferage of foodgrains could not be ruled out." The central agency noted that neither the local food inspector or shirastedar identified it during their inspection and the department failed to initiate corrective measures.
Further, the CAG also noted that test checks of the geo coordinates of the FPS revealed that 14 of the 96 FPS which were audited by the CAG had incorrect geotagging and 21 FPS were geotagged to the same latitude and longitude at Baiyapanahalli in Bengaluru. Meanwhile, the audit of the FPS also saw sub-standard and poor quality of food grains infested with worms, cobwebs and lizards in the stock. It also noted that in as many as five FPS, the foodgrains were stored along with non-food commodities such as fertilizer, chemicals, batteries and pesticides etc.
To this the govt replied to the CAG citing that such FPS were also working under societies and associated with distribution of fertilisers, pesticides etc..
