Shillong Apr 29: The Meghalaya government has warned fair price shop (FPS) dealers who are charging extra amount from the consumers as transportation cost when they lift rice from the wholesalers to bring to their respective villages for distributing to the consumers.

Speaking to media persons on Wednesday, deputy chief minister Prestone Tynsong said that the government has already arranged transportation cost for the dealers to take the rice to their village for distributing the same to the consumers.

Tynsong said that the transportation cost has been paid by the government for both ration rice, as well as rice and pulse to be distributed free of cost under Central government’s scheme — Prime Minister Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana (PMGKAY).

Under the PMGKAY, ration cardholders – Priority Household (PHH) and Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) are entitled to receive additional allocation of 5 kg rice per person, and 1 kg pulse per household, free of cost for three months – April, May and June.

Tynsong said those dealers who go against and tried to charge extra money as transportation cost, strong action would taken as per law.

“The government has paid to them the transportation cost for taking rice to their respective villages, and they have no right to again charge from the people,” Tynsong said.

Meanwhile, Tynsong clarified that the 11 persons from Umkdait locality of Nongmensong have not been arrested, but they were only picked up by police and released them without registering cases against them.

Few days back, some residents of Umkdait protested in their locality against what they alleged partialily in the distribution of rice by the elected representatives to the residents to help the people in view of the national lockdown to fight COVID-19.

Tynsong also warned people who misuse official vehicles during the ongoing lockdown and said that the DGP has been instructed that violators be booked as per law.

“I have seen news reports where some people have misused official vehicles for other purposes. I appeal to all not to misuse any official vehicle and the warning is for me also,” Tynsong said.