Global Positioning System to curb smuggling of rations

Chennai, Apr 17 (UNI) To prevent smuggling of commodities sold through Public Distribution System (PDS), the Tamil Nadu Government has decided to install Global Positioning System (GPS) to track the movement of trucks carrying PDS items, State Food and Cooperation Minister E V Velu announced in the Assembly today.

Replying to a debate on the demand for grant for his department, he said the scheme would be implemented on an experimental basis in Krishnagiri and Tiruvallur districts.

He said the shipment of commodities from the godowns of Food Corporation of India (FCI) to those of the Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation (TNCSC) and from the TNCSC godowns to fair price shops would be monitored through Short messaging Service (SMS).

The Minister also announced that the Government had decided to expedite the distribution of ration cards by decentralising the printing process.

The work, which had so far been carried out by ELCOT, would be handed over to District Collectors. In Chennai, the Chief Commissioner and Commissioner of the Food and Consumers Protection Department would be entrusted with the printing and distribution of ration cards, he added.

Mr Velu said the weekly holiday for the fair price shops run by the TNCSC would be changed from Friday to Sunday.

He said the identification of beneficiaries for the free gas connection and stove scheme would be done by Corporation Commissioner instead of District Collector in Chennai.

He said two godowns with a capacity of 20,000 MT would be built at Pillaiyarpatti in Thanjavur and Punakulam in Pudukkottai at a cost of Rs three crore to dry paddy which had high moisture content.

A new 1,500 MT capacity godown would be constructed at Gudiyatham in Vellore district at a cost of Rs 40 lakh, he added.

UNI