West Bengal government will soon introduce barcoded photo-ration cards with election photo identity card numbers to ensure effective public distribution system in the state.

All existing rations cards would be scrapped, food and supplies minister Jyotipriya Mallick replying to a debate on budgetary demands of the department in the assembly said today.

Once the database was prepared, the process for introducing the new cards to 9.11 crore existing holders would begin. There were another 1.07 crore applicants.

He said various steps had been taken to minimise leakage and diversion of foodgrains and one of the ways was to reject bogus and fake ration cards. Simultaneously online application system would be introduced for new ration card requests to prevent harassment by middlemen.

Mallick said a total 6.9 lakh bogus ration cards, including 38,000 from the city, had been seized from since the Trinamool Congress government came to power in May this year.

He expressed confidence that strong vigilance over the entire operation would expose rackets between the dealers and distributors. Special measures had been taken for people in tribal Junglemahal and Darjeeling hills.

The government had already engaged CID to inquire into a case in 2004-05 in which West Bengal essential commodities supply corporation ltd (WBECSL) had incurred a loss of a hundreds of crores of rupees in iron ore and other business, the minister said adding he had already given the details on it to chief minister Mamata Banerjee.

The budgetary demand of Rs 1,169 crore was passed in the house by voice vote.