PANAJI: The directorate of Civil Supplies will initiate a drive against bogus ration card holders from October 15 in the state. However, sufficient time would be allotted to submit and surrender such cards till October 14 to the said department or the concerned taluka mamlatdars or talathis, informed the director of Civil Supplies, Mr Gurudas Pilernkar on Monday.

The director also informed that no action would be initiated against those who surrender their ration cards before the expiry of the grace period, but if they failed to do so, a criminal offence would be registered against the erring card holders.

He said a team from civil supplies would make door-to-door visits to ensure genuineness of the ration card and if the card was found to be bogus, on the spot action would be initiated and the card would be seized.

"As per records available with us, there are 3.5 lakh card holders in the state and bogus card holders are mostly hailing from Tiswadi, Salcette, Bardez and Mormugao due to high number of migrants in these four talukas," he informed.

In many cases he said, the ration card is being used by other persons when law states that it is non transferable. Migrants are entitled for temporary ration cards for a period of six months which can be renewed later for two years but they have to surrender it to the concerned authorities when they are leaving the state for their native place, he added.

He also informed that it has come to light of the authorities that most of the migrants do not return the cards as a result these cards are being misused adding that the drive is being initiated in view of the Supreme Court guidelines.