More than 8,954 ineligible persons have returned their ration cards while Rs 16 lakh has been collected as recovery from them in 12 blocks of Bargarh district here.
In Barpali NAC, Rs 4,84, 556 was collected from 114 persons while more than 75 cases have been registered and eight persons have been arrested. Rs 3,39,619 was collected under Bargarh municipality. In Ambavona block, Rs 1,44,995 was collected from 36 persons.
Similarly, in Attabira block, Rs 3,76,661 was collected from 93 persons. In Attabira , Rs 1, 63,673 was collected from 47 persons. Rs1, 98,660 was collected in Bargarh block from 71 persons, whereas in Bhatli block Rs 57, 349 from 18 persons was collected. Rs1, 22,116 from 34 persons was collected in Bheden block. In Barpali block, Rs 6,933 was collected from 19 persons while Rs 92,515 was collected from 22 persons in Jharbandh block. Rs 33,533 from eight persons in Paikmal block and Rs 17, 53, 760 from 45 persons in Sohela block was collected.
In Padampur NAC, Rs 1, 10,521 from 26 persons and Rs 1, 60,210 from 31 persons in Padampur block was collected.
Meanwhile, all block offices of the district witness long queues of persons for return of ration cards every day. During the special drive in all 12 blocks and three NACs and the Municipality area of the district, thousands of ration cards have gone into hands of the ineligible persons, said CSO Bijaya Ratha.