Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Tuesday formally implemented one of the major recommendations of Justice Wadhwa Committee, the abolition of Storage Agent chain in order to streamline the Public Distribution System and avoid irregularities and corruption. The food supplies and consumer welfare department abolished the age-old Storage Agent system in four backward districts- Sonepur, Deogarah, Nuapada and Boudh. The abolition of the Storage Agent system was effected in the four districts in a pilot basis and it would be effected in rest 26 districts after March -2012, secretary, food supplies and consumer welfare Madhusudhan Padhi said. He said that the PDS system would now be managed by the State-run Odisha Civil Supply Corporation. If required, the Self Help Groups would be engaged in the operation of the PDS system, he pointed out. The abolition of storage agency system could not be operated for lack of required manpower and infrastructure like godowns and transport chain in the rest of the 26 districts. Accordingly, it has been decided to allow the existing Storage Agents to continue till March 2012, when the infrastructure is kept ready. With the implementation of the new system, hence forth the OCSC after procuring the required essential commodities at the Rice Receiving Centres, would make door deliveries of rice, wheat, kerosene and sugar at retail points to avoid irregularities and black marketing. To maintain transparency, the respective Retail level Advisory Committee would be informed early, relating to the quantities of commodities transported and the number of trucks and the delivery points, it said. As per the new provision, the state government would bear the cost of the transportation, house rent of the retail shop, electricity bill, wages of a helping hand, and ensure the daily minimum wage of the retailers. In order to curb irregularities and black marketing, it has been decided to ensure monthly financial benefit to the tune of Rs 4,000 to each retailer. Meanwhile, the storage agents observed Black Day in the state in protest against the decision, said president of All Odisha Storage Agents Association Subrat Kumar Nanda.