Over 32 lakh LPG connections in state illegal

BANGALORE: The Department of Food and Civil Supplies has identified over 32 lakh LPG connections and 17 lakh ration cards in the state which are alleged to be illegal.This was revealed by the department’s drive to link electricity meter RR numbers with the LPG connections and the rations cards -both APL and BPL - to identify the fake ration cards and illegal LPG connections.The number could well go up in the coming days as the creation of data base of ration cards and LPG connections in rural areas is yet to be completed.Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Minister for Food and Civil Supplies Shobha Karandlaje said that the ration cards and LPG connections which are suspected to be illegal have been kept under suspension till the final verification is complete.The department has processed 52,24,150 rations cards in the urban areas. Of which 35,89,911 cards were found to be genuine as they matched with the electricity meter RR number of the beneficiaries. About 2.62 lakh card holders had declared that they do not have electricity connection. However, more than 17.5 lakh RR numbers have more than one ration card.“The department has kept these cards under suspension.In the local inspection if they found to be illegal, stringent action will be taken against them,” she said.Similarly, out of 75,55,156 LPG connections, the department has identified 32,32,829 connections as illegal and has suspended about 6,30,863 connections, she explained.The suspension was done on two grounds - for not providing RR numbers and for a mismatch between the RR number and the number of LPG connections.She said that the fair price shops and LPG agencies had been asked not to supply food grains and LPG cylinders to the suspended cards and LPG connections.The Food and Civil Supplies Department has created a website http://ahara.kar.nic.in/ where beneficiaries can visit and find out the status of their ration card or LPG connection.The people can also get their services resumed by providing necessary documents on line.The beneficiaries can also send SMS to 9243355223 to know the status.