RAJ KUMAR
Ranchi, Dec.20: Poraiyahat MLA Pradeep Yadav today cornered the government on the issue of PoS machines being used at PDS shops across the state and alleged that the government paid Rs 250 crores as rent for the PoS machine which cost hardly Rs 78 crores.
Terming it a wasteful expenditure he said that what is the need of allowing such a PoS machine which is 2G and at many places shop owners have to climb in trees or hills to get connectivity. He was of the opinion that a new vendor be searched for the service instead of allowing the old one whose charge is unreasonable.
Chief Minister Hemant Soren in reply to this question said that the matter is in his knowledge and he is soon going to take action on the matter. He said that the process is on to convert a 2G machine into a 4G machine and old vendors have an opportunity to continue their services for the time being.
Earlier, Finance Minister Rameshwar Oraon attempted to defend the stand of the government saying PoS machines were introduced by the previous government and for each machine, there was the provision of payment of Rs 750 as rent and Rs 600 as service charge besides GST. After five years, the machine has become the government’s property and from now the government will not have to pay Rs 50 crore per annum as service charge and service. The service charge has been reduced to Rs 22 crore.
