Swindling in FCI by undervaluing lorry tare weight; Supplyco suffers losses in lakhs

KOLLAM: Fraud is being committed by understating the tare weight (the weight before loading the goods) of the lorries carrying food grains from FCI godowns to Supplyco. The truck chit report will be prepared by measuring the weight of the lorry on the way bridge before and after the loading of food grains from the FCI godown. However, in many FCI godowns, the tare weight will be recorded lower. Only a load of food grains minus the understated tare weight will be loaded on the lorries. This is also leading to a large loss of foodgrains allocated by the central government. Supplyco officials had recently caught swindling of 3.5 quintals (350 kg) of foodgrains by reducing the tare weight at an FCI godown in Karunagappally. Rationing inspectors will not enter the place where the truck chit report is being prepared. On private way bridges, the weight certificate is prepared through software. In many FCI godowns, the weight is marked by checking at the way bridge directly.

Supplyco officials receive the stock as per FCI's truck chit report. However, the shortfall in the stock will be detected only when it is checked at the Supplyco godowns later. With this, the blame for smuggling the ration will fall on the officials of the Supplyco godown. The officials concerned will have to pay Rs 40 for every kg of deficiency.

300 Kg swindled at Karunagappally

• On August 22, lorry number KL 02P 4050 arrived at the godown with foodgrains
• Tare weight 61 quintals in FCI truck chit report
• The weight of the lorry along with foodgrains was 168.05 quintals
• Tare weight was 64 quintals when checked on the private way bridge
• 3 quintals of rice swindled (300 kg)
• On truck chit given to the same lorry on 23rd, tare weight read as 63.45 quintals

"The report of the TSO on the shortage of foodgrains handed over from the Karunagapally godown will be handed over to the Commissioner of Public Distribution Department and FCI authorities,"

- S. Bindu, District Supply Officer