Mangaluru : Minister for Food and Civil Supplies U T Khader said supply of tur dal to the BPL card holders at a subsidised rate through PDS has been affected as the tenderer has failed to supply tur in required quantity.

Speaking to reporters here, he said the tenderer has failed to supply as he had availed the tender when the tur price of low. Now, its price has gone up. Notices have been served to 10 tenderers for failing to supply the required quantity of tur.

“We will wait till April 15 and later, will against invite tenders to supply tur dal. A total of 2,177 quintals of tur dal was supposed to be supplied to Dakshina Kannada district. But the tenderer has supplied only 150 quintals,” he said.

The Food and Civil Supplies Department is also looking into the possibility of direct purchase of tur dal from farmers through Karnataka Food and Civil Supplies Corporation, he added.

Following the government’s announcement to revise existing guidelines to avail BPL cards, the minister said that a few officials have been still demanding documents that are not required.

According to the new guidelines, applicants with annual income of Rs 1.2 lakh can go for self-declaration by filling details on the application to avail the cards. They have to provide income certificate as proof. The food inspectors need not go for spot inspection for sanctioning the ration cards.

The validity of the proof would be randomly checked to ensure that BPL families get the ration card without any delay, he added.

Khader said an investigation officer will be appointed by the Home Department to investigate into the issue of alleged atrocity on Ahmed Qureshi, murder suspect and the lathi charge on the PFI activists.

“It was natural for PFI activists to target me. Normally, we throw stones at mango tree and not at neem tree. I had visited the hospital where Qureshi is being treated to get details on his health condition from the doctors. I did not visit the ICU and meet Qureshi. His brother has said that he was not involved in any anti-social activities.”

To a query on alleged saffronisation in Police Department, the minister asked how can an entire department be saffronised. There may be one or two individuals who are lean towards one particular section of the society. But it is not right to blame the entire department, he said.

On ban on PFI as demanded by a few Right Wing organisations, the minister said that let the Centre take a decision on the issue.