The Delhi Government's Department of Food & Supplies has suspended licences of 30 ration shop owners who were not depositing money to procure grain and other edible items. As per norms, ration shop owners are supposed to make payment in advance by 7th of every month to procure grains and other edible items for the next month. But all 30 ration shop owners have failed to make advance payment for the month of March to procure ration from the Government.
Top sources told The Pioneer that that the Department of Food & Supplies has suspended licences of 30 ration shop owners across the city who have failed make advance payment to procure ration items for the month of March. They are duty-bound to make payment in advance by 7th of every month to procure ration for the next month. The department has also not given them commission due to their non-payment. Delhi Government had doubled the margin paid to the ration shop owners for sale of wheat and rice under the Public Distribution System (PDS). Margin money is payable to the Fair Price Shop (FPS) licencees for handling food grains, rent of shops, wages, electricity charges, stationery and miscellaneous expenses. The margin money has been enhanced from the existing Rs35 per quintal to Rs70 per quintal last year.