Irregularities in procurement of food items under PDS: Annamalai

CHENNAI: BJP State President K Annamalai on Friday alleged that the State government has given fresh orders for supplying palm oil and pulses to three companies which were fined for supplying sub-standard Pongal gift hampers this year.

In a series of tweets, he said that instead of correcting the mistake and punishing the companies for supplying sub-standard food items, only a meagre fine was imposed and again order was placed for the same items. “It will only show that something wrong has happened,” he added.

For supplying substandard items in the Pongal Gift Hampers, the Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation has fined six companies of Rs 3.75 crore, including three companies which supplied palm oil and pulses. Now, the government has placed orders for supplying one lakh tonne pulses and four lakh litres of palm oil to the same three companies.

“In the order for supplying to 2.15 crore families, if there is a loss of Rs 100 per family, it will be Rs 210 crore scam. This is only for palm oil and pulses. Another hundred crores would be lost in the procurement of pepper, tamarind, spices and other groceries items,” he alleged.