Kakinada, July 27^th: The supply of both red gram and sugar through the public distribution system (PDS) was cut down to half the quantity from July 2009. It is said that the increased costs of these items and low supplies from government forced the district civil supplies department to reduce the quantity. Large number of bogus cards is also one of the reasons. The district with a population of over 50 lakh has more than 13 lakh BPL card holders of whom white cards are 12.66 lakh, Antyodaya cards 84,831 and another 2,708 are Annapurna cards.

Cardholders get one kg of red gram and one kg sugar every month on white and Antyodaya cards. While the sugar quota was reduced to 693 mts from 1,390 mts in the last few months, the supply of red gram was reduced to half-a-kg from July at an increased price of Rs 45 a kg from 30 a kg and the supply was reduced from 18,878 mts to 9,439 mts. With a 50 percent rise in cost and reduction of quantity, there were widespread protests.

The civil supplies authorities say that meager supplies from the government are the reason for reducing the quantity through PDS. Meanwhile, the East Godavari administration has taken up the weeding out of bogus cards in a big way. District collector said that in addition to the revenue staff 400 personnel drawn from various departments to special drive to weed out fake cards.