Civil supplies commissioner conducts surprise PDS inspection at Secunderabad
HYDERABAD: Demonstrating the state government’s determination to strengthen the Public Distribution System, Commissioner of Civil Supplies M. Stephen Raveendra, IPS, sprang a surprise inspection on a Fair Price Shop in Secunderabad picket early Friday morning.
The visit, focused on evaluating how the Public Distribution System(PDS) works in practice, had the commissioner speaking face-to-face with ration cardholders to hear their experiences with the quality, quantity, and timely arrival of essentials, especially rice. He closely observed dealer behavior and checked for transparent transactions at the shop.
Raveendra warned of strict action against malpractices. “There will be zero tolerance for diversion of stocks, short supply, or any irregularity,” he stated. “Criminal cases will be filed against dealers found violating norms.” He acknowledged operational challenges faced by dealers, such as transport, handling, and electricity costs, and assured that genuine viability issues would be examined, but made clear that these cannot justify rule violations.
Surprise inspection to continue
This inspection comes after 1.75 lakh new ration cards were recently issued in Telangana. The commissioner asked the Chief Rationing Officer of Hyderabad to consider opening new fair price shops to serve more people. He also told officials to quickly fill 50 open positions in FPS dealerships to keep services running smoothly.
Accompanied by senior officials including Chief Rationing Officer M. Raji Reddy, District Civil Supplies Officer K. Srinivas, and TSCSC District Manager Sai Arun, Raveendra oversaw the verification of stock registers, transaction records, and physical inventory at the shop.
The surprise inspection is part of a larger effort by the Civil Supplies Department to improve accountability, prevent losses, and make sure subsidized food grains reach the right people on time. By focusing more on transparency and enforcement, the department is showing a stricter approach to Public Distribution System(PDS) governance in Telangana.
