5,500 surrender wrongly-held priority ration cards

Civil Supplies authorities warn of stringent action against rule violation

The city rationing office has extended the time limit for surrendering priority ration cards by those holding them wrongly till July 15. The Ernakulam district rationing authority had earlier said the ration cards under the Antyodaya-Anna Yojana (Yellow), BPL (Pink) and Subsidy (Blue) schemes, if held wrongly, should be surrendered by June 30. The office had also warned of strong action against those who tried to take advantage of wrong category ration cards. An official of the department said around 5,500 people had so far surrendered wrong category ration cards. The cards will be shifted to the non-priority category. Meanwhile, the Civil Supplies authorities said special squads would operate at the taluk level from July 16 to identify if anyone was wrongly holding priority category ration cards. Those who keep the cards wrongly will face stiff penalties, they added.