The Government of Telangana will introduce new ration cards shortly.
The decision was taken during a meeting held by Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao to review the civil supplies department activities with specific reference to ration cards. The Chief Minister said that there are 83.59 lakhs of households eligible for white ration cards and as against this, 91 lakh cards have been issued, accounting for an excess of 7 lakhs. In addition there are 15 lakh pink ration cards over and above the required number and thus, there are 22 lakh of excess cards in the State, both White and Pink.
The Chief Minister asked the officials to find out whether the excess cards are with the ration shop dealers and if so, a warning to all dealers who possess the excess cards has to be issued to surrender them immediately failing which severe action will be initiated against them. All ineligible ration cards, both Pink and White are to be with drawn forth with.
KCR told the officials that when he mentioned this fact in the Assembly, all the Members have agreed to initiate action against the guilty and the mood of the house was against the illegal ration cards. He said he was very much worried about the ration cards issue and how the systems were wrecked during the previous governments. He desired that every thing must be streamlined and an integrated approach has to be taken so that the poorest of the poor should not suffer.
The Chief Minister also instructed the officials to initiate action to over come the deficiency of petrol in the northern parts of Telangana.
Finance Minister Etela Rajendra, Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao, Chief Secretary Rajiv Sharma, Prl. Secretary to CM S Narsing Rao, Commissioner Civil Supplies C Parthasarathy and Managing Director Civil Supplies Corporation Anil Kumar attended the meeting.