HYDERABAD: The ration supplied to the Sindh government under a contract of around 10,800 bags was found to be underweight and substandard, an inquiry conducted into the matter showed.

A document of the Bureau of Supply and Prices also revealed a difference of Rs179 on each 20kg ration bag when compared with market prices.

An administration officer conducted the inquiry after edibles were distributed in four talukas of Hyderabad district through UC chairmen.

Ration bags were provided through assistant commissioners of each taluka in the last few days. Soon after bags were distributed in UCs, complaints started pouring in that edibles were not only underweight but also substandard.

On April 5, an unpleasant incident had occurred when, according to a vendor’s claim, a ration bags-laden truck was intercepted allegedly by two armed men who took it to an area in Hussainabad where a mob looted the entire stock. Around 400 bags were to be delivered to the Qasimabad assistant commissioner in Niaz Stadium by the vendor.

Following complaints of substandard and underweight edibles, Additional Deputy Commissioner-I Liaquat Kalhoro got edibles examined through food authority officials and Bureau of Supply and Prices. The edibles were measured in the presence of vendor Mehmood Rajput, assistant commissioners and other officials on Wednesday (April 8). The vendor is an office-bearer of a Hyderabad-based traders’ organisation.

“After the inquiry, the vendor has been asked to replace some items especially daal channa and rice which are third rate as per the findings. I have personally seen daal and rice. Rice is a mix of something,” said ADC Kalhoro. He added that the vendor was bound to make sure that ration bags that were looted would be provided to the Qasimabad assistant commissioner. He said that daal and rice would be replaced in remainder of the supplies. According to him, food authority officials examined the goods. “The vendor was given contract because his quotations were lowest as against the market rate,” he said.

Sources said assistant director in the bureau Mir Shahnawaz in his April 9 letter, backed by some annexures, concluded in following terms, “most of ration bags were found underweight, quality of majority items was substandard, rates reported are market wholesale rates, freight is calculated form market to Shahbaz building”.

The official suggested that in the light of reports attached, substandard products and underweight items should be replaced against fair market price.

In one of the annexures, prices have been quoted as well, mentioning market price of the items and as per their quality to claim differential. It says that the rate of 5kg rice is calculated at Rs350 against vendor’s quoted Rs250 (quality-wise) showing Rs100 difference; 1kg daal channa’s market rate is Rs150 against vendor’s quoted Rs120 with a difference of Rs30; and 1kg daal masoor market rate is Rs130 against vendor’s quoted Rs116 with a difference of Rs14. There is, however, no difference in prices of 1kg sugar (Rs70) and 10kg atta (Rs450). Edible oil’s market price is Rs400 and quality-wise quotation of vendor is Rs370, showing a difference of Rs30. A difference of Rs5 on 130g tea pack is noted. In all, a difference of Rs179 is revealed on 20kg bag.

Bureau officials in their findings submitted to the administration claimed that they had checked 15 bags in four talukas and each bag carried seven items. Some of them were in fine condition while some others damaged. It was hard to weigh them separately.

They said that total average weight of a bag should be 19kg but some were found underweight and some in excess. Separate items were found short of a varying weight from 20 grams to 150g. The quality was not up to the mark; daal channa is not of edible quality. Oil, tea and flour were of local brand and seems third-grade quality.

On his part, contractor Mehmood Rajput said that “packing was done on an emergency basis in paper bags. These were loaded at different places and if edibles have fallen they accumulated within the ration bag.” He confirmed he was present during the inspection of the stocks and could confidently say there was no point of edibles being underweight.

He said he was asked to replace daal channa and rice. “We have supplied ‘Karnal’ basmati rice — known as adhwar in market parlance — and we supplied each ration bag at a rate of Rs1,630, being the lowest quotation.”

After having been supplied by vendor, ration bags were randomly checked by some Rangers personnel and revenue officials as well, who found the supplies substandard, necessitating an inspection through the officials concerned under ADC-I’s supervision.

Another consolidated report is being prepared under administration’s directives, sources said.

According to the ADC-I, the contract of vendor has been cancelled under newly-posted deputy commissioner’s directive and now the Utility Stores Corporation (USC) will be given a contract for supply of another 11,000 bags. It would cost the administration around Rs1,800 per bag and since it was a government entity, edibles would be of good quality.

However, the ADC-I did not explain why the previous contract was not given to the USC by the outgoing DC.

Published in Dawn, April 10th, 2020