NEW DELHI: The Delhi government is cracking down on hoarding, diversion and black-marketing of food grains. As many as 209 fair price shops (FPS) were inspected over three days, 15 of which were sealed.
Criminal cases have been registered against some transporters and FPS owners involved in diversion of food grains. Raids were held from May 24 to May 26, food commissioner S S Yadav said. Teams tracked vehicles from warehouses to ration shops. The industrial areas on Lawrence Road and in Narela and Bawana were under vigil. On May 24, two vehicles were seized and cases registered under the Essential Commodities Act and IPC. The foodgrains had not reached eight shops; in four other shops, diversion was noticed. The department has requested the Delhi Police for a comprehensive and quick investigation of all the cases registered, he added.
Since the first raid on May 1, the department has registered 30 FIRs and sealed 31 FPS and 3 flour mills.
"The department is committed to deal with the menace of diversion and black-marketing of subsidized foodgrains issued under the Public Distribution System (PDS) through Fair Price Shops (FPS) with a heavy hand. The drive of the department to curb this menace will continue," said Yadav.