Hubballi: The state government has dropped for now a plan to give money instead of food grains to below-poverty line (BPL) card holders, Minister for Food and Civil Supplies U T Khader has said. The plan could now be introduced only if Chief Minister Siddaramaiah approves it, he told journalists here on Friday.

This apart, the minister said, the process of receiving online applications for APL ration cards has begun, and 42,000 applications have been received so far.

Applicants can hope to get APL ration cards delivered at their doorstep within 15 days, faster than they would get their passports, he said and added that the process to apply online for BPL ration cards would begin soon.

Khader said the government was using new software to print and distribute the ration cards faster, adding that Karnataka could top the country in issuing ration cards so quickly.