HYDERABAD, Jan 7: The district government has established 371 flour selling points where more than 23,000 bags of 10kg each are available at official rate, claimed Hyderabad DCO Aftab Ahmed Khatri on Monday.

He was briefing participants of a meeting held in his office to ensure supply and sale of flour at government fixed rates.

The district government had deputed seven judicial magistrates to take action against hoarders and profiteers and to ensure regular release of wheat to mills and chakkis and from there to selling points, he added. He further claimed of flour being sold at chakkis and selling points at official rate of Rs16 per kg.

The district government had set up 176 flour points at shops and general stores with every point supplied 100 bags of 10kg each daily, said the DCO. The managements of selling point he said had been advised to display banners informing consumers of the availability of flour at government-fixed rate.

He said managements of 187 atta chakkis too, had been directed to open selling points within their grinding units, and on inclusion of eight Utility Stores, the accumulative figure totals 371 points.

He said special judicial magistrates will take action on spot against those involved in mismanagement in supply or illegal profiteering.

He asked the magistrates to take inspectors of Food Department along with them and pay surprise visit to markets and ensure not only hoarding and profiteering but also releases of wheat quota to flour mills, chakkis and flour from these places to selling points.

He said to remain in contact with consumers Complaint Centres had been set up in the offices of Union Council Nazim. People hade been advised to lodge complaint in case of facing difficulty in obtaining flour.

Deputy Director Food Hyderabad Lal Khan Jatoi said there was no flour crisis in Hyderabad, and if any shortage existed it was because of profiteering.

He said his management was providing full quota to mills and chakkis.

Focal Person to District Nazim Hyderabad Q. Hakim Ali, EDO Revenue Syed Barkat Rizvi, DO (R) Syed Sajjad Hyder, all DDOs Revenue, all Mukhtiarkars, District Food Controller Hyderabad and other officers attended the meeting.