Sundilla barrage bridge: Hub for PDS rice smuggling to Maharashtra

Smugglers are gathering rice from various parts of the district and using the bridge to transport it to the neighboring state. In addition to the Sundilla bridge, the Annaram (Sarasvathi) barrage and the Kaleshwaram interstate bridge are also being used for rice smuggling activities.

Peddapalli: Road bridge of Sundilla (Parvathi) barrage has become a safe zone for illegal transportation of public distribution system (PDS) rice to Maharashtra.

Smugglers, who collect the rice in different parts of the district, are using the bridge to transport the rice to the neighboring state.

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Besides Sundilla, Annaram (Sarasvathi) barriage and Kaleshwaram inter-state bridge have also been utilized for the purpose of rice smuggling.

Since there is a huge demand for PDS rice in Maharashtra, some of the illegal traders have been engaged in the business for many years. Earlier, they used to utilize train services to transport rice. However, they stopped depending on trains due to vigilance intensified by the police.

At the same time, Sundilla barrage was constructed as part of the Kaleshwaram lift irrigation project. It has become a boon for traders.

On November 9, both police and civil supplies department officials, in a joint operation, seized a vehicle carrying 25 quintals of PDS rice near the barrage. A case was also registered against one Sriman Gupta from Godavarikhani.

About 50 quintals of rice stored in different houses in Manthani and surrounding areas were also seized in this month. About 500 quintals of rice have been seized in different incidents since April this year.

Ration dealers, who are purchasing rice from card holders by paying Rs 8 to Rs 10 per kilogram, are selling them to illegal traders at Rs 12 to Rs 15. Besides dealers, illegal operators are also directly purchasing rice from the people by paying the same amount. However, they are making money by selling rice at Rs 25 to Rs 30 per kg in Maharashtra.

The rice collected from Manthani, Godavarikhani, Peddapalli and surrounding villagers are being stored in different places. Later, they will be transported to the neighboring state by loading in auto-trolleys, minivans and vans.

After crossing Sundilla bridge, rice will be transported to Damerakunta of Jayashankar-Bhupalapally district by passing through Jaipur and Chennur mandals of Mancherial district.

Similarly, rice has also been transported to Sironcha, Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra through Kaleshwaram inter-state bridge.

Not only rice smuggling, Sundilla barrage has also become a safe zone for other illegal activities. The accused of a sensational murder of the high court advocate couple Gattu Vamana Rao and Nagamani on February 17, 2021, also escaped to Maharashtra by using the barrage road. Moreover, the knives used for the double murder were dropped in the barrage.

On the other hand, the smugglers, who stole Rs 3.10 crore from Gunjapadugu SBI bank on March 24, 2021, also reportedly escaped through the barrage.