PANJIM: Despite the exposure of a huge grain scam some months ago, huge stocks of grains have been reported missing from two fair-price shops (FPS) in South Goa. Nearly 30,000 kg of ration meant for cardholders has gone missing from a FPS from Benaulim. 5,500 kg of rationing grains have gone missing from a FPS in Nuvem. A probe has been launched in both cases.
It’s of significant concern that the incidents have happened within a matter of months.
While the police officials investigating the grains smuggling case are collecting evidence and taking statements of various persons to build a case, the incidents of quota going missing and bad quality grains continue to plague the Public Distribution System (PDS). Investigating officers have informed that they are yet to examine more witnesses in the case and the chargesheets will be filed after that.
However, with the South Goa District Court quashing the order of the South Goa Collector to give back the seized food grains to the Fair Price Shops (FPS) for distribution, the “stolen goods” are out of the system.
Meanwhile, three PIs handling three-grain theft cases are yet to file chargesheet in cases, which is weakening by the day while their “boss” Raju Raut Desai interestingly roped in especially for this case as “Additional SP” has moved to Coastal Police while still “looking” at these cases.
Some of the FPS owners have informed that the quality of grains sent to the shops is still questionable. “Shops and warehouses were raided, but what did they achieve from it? The persons involved in the matter have already sold the grain that was case property of the raid some months ago,” he said on the condition of anonymity.
The Police Inspector investigating one of the three cases PI Laxi Amonkar informed, “We have recorded statements of officials of the Civil Supplies Department. We are collecting evidence and many more witnesses are being examined in the case. There are three FIRs in the case. Chargesheets may be filed together in the future,” he said.
The fair price shop owners from Goa met Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and the Civil Supplies Minister on Tuesday. The association some years ago had alerted the government regarding the corruption in the PDS system. Now, they have asked for an increase in quota and also for streamlining the procedures. Joaquim Fernandes, Chairman of All Goa Fair Price Shop Owners and Consumer Coop Societies Association said, “The Department has been sending show cause notices to the owners in whose shops discrepancies have been found. The CM has assured us that our issues will be resolved,” he said.
The Civil Supplies Department had meanwhile suspended thousands of ration cards to curb the misappropriation of grains. This has substantially cut the amount of grains that were being picked from the Fair Price Shops across Goa. However, the police may have a tough time getting the accused in the matter to justice due to the limited scope of the investigation.
