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Poor being deprived of their ration
The modus operandi of smugglers is to procure the rice meant for the Public Distribution System at Rs 8 a kg locally and sell it in Maharashtra at Rs 18 a kg. The smugglers are said to be diverting the PDS rice to the black market in connivance with fair price shop dealers and some Civil Supplies officials.
​Adilabad: The rampant smuggling of subsidised rice from this backward district to neighbouring Maharashtra has deprived thousands of poor people of their ration. According to the Civil Supplies officials, a total of 15 million tonnes of rice is being supplied to 7.28 lakh ration card-holders in the district a month through 1,441 fair price shops.
The modus operandi of smugglers is to procure the rice meant for the Public Distribution System at Rs 8 a kg locally and sell it in Maharashtra at Rs 18 a kg. The smugglers are said to be diverting the PDS rice to the black market in connivance with fair price shop dealers and some Civil Supplies officials.
It is a known fact that the rice smugglers have got the clandestine support of some TRS leaders. Some ruling party leaders of Mancherial, Luxettipet and Dandapalli are said to be involved in smuggling of PDS rice as it is highly profitable. Mancherial, Nirmal, Jannaram, Bhainsa and Kagaznagar are the major centres of rice smuggling in the district.
According to sources, hundreds of lorry loads of PDS rice are being smuggled out from the district every month. Normally, the trucks and vans laden with subsidised rice leave the district at night to avoid checking en route. Rice is also being smuggled out in trains from Bellampalli and Kagaznagar.
Though the railway officials are aware of rice smuggling in trains, they have turned a blind eye to the illegal activity for obvious reasons. The volume of illegal trade of PDS rice runs into several crores of rupees. Some smugglers have set up warehouses to stock the illegally procured PDS rice. Several Revenue, Civil Supplies and Railway officials have not taken steps to plug the loopholes for obvious
reasons.
Speaking to The Hans India, District Civil Supplies Officer Uday Kumar said: “We have intensified raids to check diversion of essential commodities meant for the PDS to black market.
PDS rice, red gram, sugar and palm oil worth Rs 55 lakh were seized in raids. As many as 375 criminal cases were registered against smugglers of essential commodities. We will step up vigilance to curb smuggling of PDS rice. Stern action will be taken against fair price shop dealers if they resort to indulge malpractices in distribution of essential commodities.”
Expressing concern over rampant smuggling of subsidised rice in the district, the card-holders sought effective measures to strengthen the Public Distribution System and ensure food security for the poor.
