"civil-supplies-corporation"

The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has reported a steep rise in bribery cases across the erstwhile Adilabad district, which includes Adilabad, Mancherial, Nirmal and Kumram Bheem Asifabad. Cases jumped from 18 in 2024 to 31 in 2025, marking a 72 percent increase.

Despite Telangana achieving its highest-ever paddy yield in Kharif 2025, farmers across key districts are protesting against severe delays in government procurement. Unseasonal rains have damaged crops and procurement centres are rejecting loads due to strict moisture norms. Civil Supplies Corporation operations remain sluggish, with purchases falling short of targets.

In Mancherial district, 25 rice millers have been identified for defaulting or diverting custom milled rice (CMR) from the Vanakalam and Yasangi seasons of 2022 to 2024, with an estimated value of Rs. 205.47 crore. Cases against nine millers have been registered under relevant laws, with penalties and interest imposed.

Despite the government's assurance to keep paddy procurement centres open until January, the arrivals in the market over the past week have averaged between 50,000 to 60,000 tonnes per day. This is significantly lower than expected. Private traders and millers have been active in the market, mainly focusing on fine varieties, which has further impacted the government's procurement efforts.

Farmers voiced concerns about the moisture content issues and FAQ specifications, which are impeding the procurement process

The Civil Supplies Corporation, responsible for the food security program under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), has proposed starting the distribution of fine rice on Ugadi, the Telugu New Year, on March 30, 2025. This proposal is currently awaiting approval from the State government.

Farmers encountered difficulties at procurement centers, as strict adherence to fair average quality standards led them to sell their produce to private traders who offered Rs 300 to Rs 400 per quintal above the minimum support price. Local officials observed that most of the grade-A paddy produced in the state was purchased by millers from Chennai. Initially hesitant to buy A-grade paddy due to the obligation of providing a Rs 500 per quintal incentive to growers, state agencies are now rushing to procure as much as they can.

T Harish Rao said on Wednesday that the Civil Supplies Corporation had failed not only in facilitating timely procurement of paddy but even in ensuring timely payment for the paddy procured.

Some 750 metric tons of the PDS rice illegally stored and transported in seven trucks was seized.

The procurement was hit by untimely rains last year too. But summer showers were experienced this time in long spells and almost throughout May.

"With the special measures initiated to give farmers timely updates on the rain forecast, we could minimise to a maximum extent exposure of paddy to untimely rains," he said.

As part of the special initiative, Civil Supplies Commissioner D S Chowhan said the corporation has taken up simultaneous weighing and stacking of the stocks.

Civil Supplies Commissioner D S Chouhan said the corporation would be switching over to the use of climate monitoring and weather forecasting tools more intensively.

The corporation would procure every single grain of paddy arrived at the purchase centres, corporation officials said in a release.

They said that three paddy purchase centres of the corporation would continue to purchase paddy and the market yard issues would not come in the way of their operations.

Addressing a news conference, he said the Civil Supplies Corporation would ensure its competitive presence in every market where the need for regulating private operations was felt.

The paddy procurement achieved so far is in the order of some 31,000 metric tonnes only and this is mainly from Nizamabad and Nalgonda districts.

Addressing party cadre of Gajwel assembly segment as part of a preparatory meeting of the Medak Lok Sabha election at Shamirpet on Saturday, Harish Rao said the State government was paying nothing to TSRTC and Civil Supplies Corporation to meet the expenses from the treasury.

In the last 50 days, the corporation has managed to collect 14.50 lakh metric tonnes of CMR at an average of 30,000 tonnes a day.

Medical claim limit increased from Rs 3 lakhs to Rs 5 lakhs.