Joda: Black marketing of PDS items is on the rise in Joda town of Keonjhar district while benefits do not reach beneficiaries amid repeated allegations that consumer welfare and civil supplies department is taking no action against the black marketers.
It was also learnt that PDS items are also supplied to Jharkhand through a racket.
Locals alleged that the civil supplies officials and PDS dealers have formed an unholy nexus siphoning off subsidised food stuff and kerosene.
Police raided Balbantsing Hutting Friday morning and seized PDS kerosene and arrested a person.
The seizure of PDS kerosene has substantiated the public allegations about PDS black-marketing.
Locals sought to know if police can catch the black marketers of the PDS items, how the civil supplies department officials fail to get any clue.
Police seized 14 barrels containing 2520 litres of kerosene from a grocery shop of Arjun Mahat.
A case was registered at Joda police station, said IIC Manoj Kumar Rout.
Sources said an influential leader of the ruling party’s minority cell has been looking after PDS at four to five places in Joda town with the help of the civil supplies officials.
Locals accused him of being responsible for black marketing of PDS items. The irregularities are being suppressed at the administrative level. If police carry out a proper investigation into it, all kinds of irregularities will come out, the locals observed.
Civil supplies inspector of Joda municipality, Payal Hembram said she was not aware of the seizure of PDS kerosene.
No reaction was available from the district civil supplies officer Abhiram Pradhan.
Executive officer of the Joda municipality said he would take action if there is any written complaint.
It was learnt that over 10,000 litres of kerosene, hundreds of quintals of wheat and rice are misappropriated and illegally supplied to different parts of Jharkhand. Some inter-state traders are suspected to be part of this racket.
PNN
