Rice smuggling continues unabated in Adilabad

Rice smuggling continues unabated in Adilabad
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Highlights

What is surprising was that only a case under section 6 A has been booked instead of a criminal case. However, in a similar case, the officials seized 10 quintals of rice from one Nagaraju in Kottur village and booked a criminal case along with 6 A, which gives ample proof that a criminal nexus exists between the officials and the smugglers. 

Luxettipeta (Adilabad): Hundreds of quintals of rationed rice are being smuggled out without any check owing to the indifference of the police and enforcement department officials. Recently, they seized 220 quintals of rice from one Konda Lakshman working for the Jagtiyal based Hanuman Sai Traders.

What is surprising was that only a case under section 6 A has been booked instead of a criminal case. However, in a similar case, the officials seized 10 quintals of rice from one Nagaraju in Kottur village and booked a criminal case along with 6 A, which gives ample proof that a criminal nexus exists between the officials and the smugglers.

The fact that 340 quintals of subsidised rice were seized in the two mandals of Luxettipeta and Dandepalli shows to what level irregularities are taking place in the Public Distribution System in the district. However, when this issue was brought to the notice of the local civil supplies officials, they stoutly denied it and said that the distribution of rice was going on smoothly.

Speaking to The Hans India on Friday, Deputy Tahsildar Imtiaz denied any large-scale irregularities and said that those indulging in smuggling of rice was nabbed. The locals alleged that the officials were turning a blind eye to the smuggling of rationed rice.

According to official figures, there are around 7,38,752 food security cards among which 6,86, 240 are regular cards, 52,309 antyodaya cards and 203 Annapurna cards. Every month, 14,930, 623 metric tonnes of rice are being distributed to the poor through the fair price shops. On the food security card, each member of a family gets 6 kg of rice, 35 kg of rice for those possessing the antyodaya card and 10 kg of rice for those having the Annapurna card.

State PDSU vice-president Shankar Satyam said that it was unfortunate that while nine essential commodities were supplied by the previous Congress regime, only rice and sugar were being supplied now through the fair price shops. Even the quantity of sugar was reduced by half, he lamented.

He alleged that rice and sugar worth crores of rupees were being smuggled by the rice and sugar millers with the connivance of the officials, who were bribed. Not only rice, but also pulses, wheat and kerosene were being sold in the black market at exorbitant prices, he alleged. JAC Mandal convener K Ravi expressed the hope that the State government would take drastic steps to end corruption.

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