IF you are expecting supply of dal, rice and edible oil through a friendly neighbourhood ration shop from May 1, as assured by the State Government earlier, you better forget it. The government will not be able to meet the pre-announced date for supply of essential commodities through the public distribution system as the tender worth Rs 600 crore to replenish the stocks has been scrapped following allegations of irregularities and favouritism. The tender had been issued through mainstream newspapers for replenishment of stocks, which invited criticism from the Opposition during the just concluded budget session of the State Legislature. Now it has been decided to issue the tender again after being okayed by the high-powered committee which has been set up to ensure transparency and to stall the allegations of irregularities. A decision to reissue the tender was taken at a meeting between Finance Minister Jayant Patil and Civil Supplies Minister Sunil Tatkare at Mantralaya on Tuesday. Interestingly, Tatkare informed that the state government has not even purchased a kilogram of rice or dal. Finance secretary Subodh Kumar said that though the marketing federation was involved in the purchase of foodstuffs, the entire transactions took place with the compliance and clearance of the Civil Supply Department. It may be noted that the state government had announced that it would supply rice at Rs 12 per kg, dal at Rs 30 per kg and edible oil at Rs 50 per kg to the people irrespective of their economic status to beat inflation blues. BJP MLA Devendra Fadnavis had raised the issue in the assembly and alleged that irregularities worth over Rs 90 crore were detected in the purchase of rice and dal worth Rs 600 crore. The stormy debate in the House over the issue had seen the speaker intervene in the matter and seek ministerial assurance. Tatkare had stayed all the purchase transactions and assured that the matter would be referred to the high-powered committee.