Loss of over Rs 133 crore in food subsidy in WB: CAG

KOLKATA: The Comptroller and Auditor General has indicted the Public Distribution System ( PDS) in West Bengal pointing out flaws in the implementation of policies, including a loss of more than Rs 133 crore in food subsidy.

The report for 2009-10, tabled in the Assembly today, said the food and supplies department of the state did not prepare the annual accounts of PDS from 2005-06 to 2009-10 due to which it could not claim food subsidy aggregating Rs 133.66 crore from the Centre.

It also said nearly three lakh families were denied benefit of Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) scheme, while 1.93 lakh eligible families even after identification were deprived of the scheme due to non-issuance of AAY ration cards.

The report said in the absence of adequate monitoring over functioning of rice mills in the state, the department could procure only 77 per cent of the targeted quantity of rice during 2005-10.