Normal variety rice deteriorates in ration shops across Karimnagar

Delay in shifting old stock of normal variety rice from ration shops in Karimnagar district is causing storage issues for dealers. With worms affecting piled-up rice, beneficiaries are refusing supplies, forcing dealers to seek urgent government intervention.

Karimnagar: Delay in shifting old stock of normal variety rice from public distribution system (PDS) shops has become a problem for ration dealers.

To provide fine variety rice to poor people and check illegal trade of PDS rice, the state government launched the distribution of fine variety rice programme on the occasion of the Ugadi festival in April 2025.

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However, a huge quantity of normal variety rice was stored in ration shops, godowns and Mandal Level Stock (MLS) points before the launch of the scheme. Though the new scheme was launched, the old stock of normal variety rice was not shifted from ration shops by the state government.

Though officials invited tenders twice to shift the old stock from shops, contractors are not coming forward due to high prices. As a result, officials are planning to invite tenders once again.

Dealers are facing problems in storing new stocks of rice since a majority of ration shops are operating from small rooms and the old stock has not been cleared.

Moreover, insects and worms have developed in the leftover stock as it has been piled up during the last few months and is spreading to the new stock of fine variety rice. People are now refusing to accept worm-infested rice.

Dealers want the government to help them by shifting the old stock from ration shops at the earliest.

While 4,732 metric tonnes of rice is stocked in Huzurabad, Jammikunta and Rukmapur godowns, 481 metric tonnes is stored at Karimnagar, Choppadandi, Huzurabad and Jammikunta MLS points.

On the other hand, 5,820 quintals of rice is lying in ration shops.