The introduction of biometric facilities to get food and other essential items under the public distribution system (PDS) has helped the Karnataka government save around ₹590 crore in the last one-and-a-half years, according to BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan, Karnataka Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Legal Metrology.

Laying the foundation stone for the new office building of the Legal Metrology Department in Mangaluru on Thursday, he said around 20,000 depots in the state provide these items under the PDS.

Now the PDS beneficiaries will have to give their thumb impression to get food and other essential items under this system.

This has eliminated the misuse of PDS facility by a few people.

This measure, which was introduced one-and-a-half years ago, has helped save the government around ₹590 crore, he said.

Giving details about the proposed building for the Legal Metrology Department in Mangaluru, he said the 2,200 sq ft structure will come up in Mangaluru at a cost of ₹93 lakh.

Ganjendra V Edake, Assistant Controller, Department of Legal Metrology, said the department has its own buildings in 18 places in the state. Construction works are in progress in another 13 places, he added.