On Saturday, M. Ayyappan visited his fair price shop near his home in Sembakkam municipality after more than a month. While the salesmen were arranging the stocks of sugar stored in plastic bags, the cardholder was shocked to find of a swarm of huge black ants, leeches and small reptiles emerging from underneath.
The recent heavy rain damaged stocks of essential commodities meant for distribution through the Public Distribution System (PDS).
Most outlets were closed due to inundation or lack of access due to stagnation on streets. S. Sulochana Sivakumar of Tiruvanmiyur, who also purchased sugar, said: “It was brownish in colour and the quality was not good.”
In Nanganallur, a couple of fair price shops on First Main Road and 100-Feet Road near Civil Aviation Colony were affected.
“More than 100 bags of rice and daal had to be discarded. The bags were kept on the floor. The commodities should be placed at an elevated slab during the monsoon,” said activist V. Rama Rao.
“Due to flooding in Sylvan Lodge Colony in Kilpauk, our ration shop was closed for four days. All cardholders had to shell out extra money to buy provisions in the open market,” said Shalini Thomas.
Members of trade unions in the Co-operation, Food and Consumer Protection Department said damage to stock was significant across the city and its suburbs. Officials in the Department said they did not have information about the exact quantity of essential commodities that were damaged. Their immediate priority is to ensure that no cardholder is deprived of their monthly ration, be it rice, daal or kerosene.
