Smuggled PDS rice from Telangana gets recycled in Maharashtra, returns to State

The smugglers are procuring the grains from dealers of fair price shops and middlemen who purchase the rice from beneficiaries of the food security scheme.

Mancherial: Rice grains meant for the Public Distribution System (PDS), smuggled from Telangana to Maharashtra, are being allegedly recycled in the neighbouring State and then being sold to millers back in Telangana.

It is an open secret that the PDS rice grains are being smuggled from different parts of Telangana to Sironcha, Wirur and Podsa and other towns of Maharashtra. The smugglers are procuring the grains from dealers of fair price shops and middlemen who purchase the rice from beneficiaries of the food security scheme.

---

On February 14, officials of the vigilance wing from the Civil Supplies and a task force jointly seized 615 quintals of PDS rice being smuggled by two lorries and a truck from Telangana to Maharashtra in Chennur town. A dozen persons were arrested for allegedly smuggling PDS rice grains at an inter-state check-post at Hudkili village in Sirpur (T) mandal on February 11.

This rampant diversion of PDS rice is not only affecting objectives of the initiative, but helping the smugglers to mint money. The smugglers reportedly are able to commit the crime by offering huge bribes to police, revenue and civil supplies officials every month.

A Sub-Inspector Suresh Nagaraju and constable was caught by the ACB while accepting a bribe of Rs 1 lakh from smugglers of PDS rice at Tirumalagiri of Suryapet district on January 29. Thorrur Inspector K Jagadish was also arrested for allegedly demanding Rs 3 lakh from the accused smugglers to grant bail to them.

Sources said that the PDS rice grains were being recycled in mills of Maharashtra. The recycled grains are then being purchased by millers of Telangana for overcoming their defaulted grains in the process of customized milling rice (CMR) to the government. The mills are able to make a fast buck by indulging in the offence, according to sources.

Civil Supplies officials said patrolling was stepped up on diversion of the PDS rice grains, while criminal cases were being registered against defaulting rice millers. They stated that officials of the vigilance wing laid a special focus on eradicating the diversion of the grains meant for the financially weak families.