Suji and flour unfit for human consumption

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Nov 15: The district magistrate Mr CR Das instructed the district food and supplies department to ‘hold back’ stock of non PDS items like flour and Suji which are allegedly identified as unfit for human consumption. In order to avoid fresh public outrage on ration issue such decision was taken yesterday after receiving complaints from the public and as well as ration dealers. After packaged flour another item Suji has been identified as ‘unfit for human consumption’. The ration dealers yesterday drew the attention of the district magistrate about the problem of some items supplied by the essential commodity supply department. They showed some packets of poor quality Suji to the district magistrate yesterday and alleged that ration distributors insisted dealers to receive such poor quality items. “ I have instructed the food and supplies department to ‘hold back’ disputed items which is apparently not fit for human consumption. The district controller and food and supplies department will take final decision whether those items would be distributed “, said Mr Das. The DCFS Mr N K Saha is trying hard to get opinion from the quality control officials about items. The Malda modified ration dealers’ association called off strike yesterday evening after a meeting with the district magistrate. The Malda D M ensured the safety and security of the dealers and requested them to develop public rapport to reduce public outrage by opening shops more than four hours on the scheduled date every week and do something for people with transparency. “DM or DCFS or police will not be able to reduce public grievances on the ration issue. Dealers will have to manage their own consumers”, the DM said. The district magistrate has turned down the plea not to for to suspend MR dealers on the basis of the complaints from the people. “For investigation into a public complaint against a dealer, the departmental officials will suspend the dealer first before investigation”, Mr. C R Das pointed out. “The district administration will not tolerate any complaints where people are suffering”, he added. A total of 25 dealers have been suspended. The Malda DM admitted their problem and said that demand for money and compensation from dealers is illegal and that could not be accepted lawfully and police will take stern action against such activities if dealers communicate the information to the government officials on time.