In an excercise aimed at curbing graft and irregularities, officials of the Delhi government today conducted raids and inspections at various places across the national capital.
Teams comprising officials of anti-corruption bureau, Transport, Food and Supplies, Excise, Trade and Taxes, Health, Food Safety, Police departments, SDMs, IAS probationers and DANICS probationers were formed on the directions of Lt Governor Najeeb Jung to conduct the checks, a statement issued by the Delhi government said.
26 teams of Food and Supplies department conducted inspections at Fair Price Shops (FPS), petrol pumps and LPG agencies across the 11 districts of Delhi.
Of the 19 FPSs raided, 7 were sealed after finding them closed or where records were not available. Three FIRs were lodged in those FPSs where diversion of foodgrains was detected, the statement said.
"Two inspectors of Food and Supplies Department have been suspended for dereliction of duty. Action has also been taken against violators for irregularities like non-opening of shop, non-distribution of SFAs, non-display of rate list and statutory information etc," it said.
Teams conducted raids on 25 petrol pumps and inspected 430 dispensers. In 4 cases, licensees have been prosecuted for dispensing lesser quantity. In 8 cases, prosecution has been lodged for non display of verification certificate of the dispensing machine, the statement said.
Teams inspected 11 LPG agencies in the national capital and also intercepted vehicles going for home delivery of LPG cylinders.
In 5 cases, the gas in the cylinders was found underweight up to 850 gms. The defaulters have been prosecuted under Section 30 of the Legal Metrology Act, 2009. In case of repeated offenders, the FIRs will be lodged and cases will be sent to court for trial.
A domestic LPG cylinder is required to have 14.2 kg LPG in addition to the weight of the cylinders, which is written on the cylinder itself. Variation of only 150 grams is allowed.
ACB officials conducted checks at two major construction sites - Mandoli Prisons Complex and elevated corridors from Janakpuri District Centre to Wazirabad.
At Mandoli Prisons Complex site, the project work was found running behind schedule and technical experts found absent.
Some unskilled laborers said that they were not being paid the minimum wages prescribed by the Government. A detailed report is being submitted in this regard, officials said.
At the elevated corridors project site, the officials found that while the records of the three companies, who were given the construction work, were being maintained properly, those of sub-contractors were not being maintained.
Although labourers were being paid wages prescribed by the Government, technical experts were found absent during the visit, officials said.
Food safety officials sent samples of spices, besan and sweets like colouful laddoos, yellow chilly powder, chaat masala, raskadam, cashewnuts to food testing lab for analysis during a check on sweet shops in Netaji Subhas Place Market, Wazirpur and Rani Bagh.
Action would be taken upon receipt of the analysis which is expected in two weeks, officials said.
During a raid by officials of the Department of Trade and Taxes, 3 dealers were found non-existing at the premises declared during registration and thus were found indulging in bogus transactions. Action is being taken for cancellation of registration of these dealers.
Premises of two dealers were sealed for non-production of books of accounts and their inability to prove the purchase against which Input Tax Credit as claimed, officials said.