Telangana: Fine variety rice smuggling begins in Peddapalli

Fine variety rice being distributed to white ration card holders through fair price shops is allegedly being smuggled to other places by illegal traders. Surprisingly, smuggling of the fine variety rice began the very next month after distribution of the rice began

Peddapalli: Fine variety rice being distributed to white ration card holders through fair price shops is allegedly being smuggled to other places by illegal traders. Surprisingly, smuggling of the fine variety rice began the very next month after distribution of the rice began. This was revealed with the seizure of a rice-laden lorry at Dharmaram of Peddapalli district three days ago.

Based on reliable information, the Civil Supplies Task Force conducted vehicle checking in the early hours of Wednesday and seized the lorry transporting rice illegally from Mancherial. In order to supply fine variety rice to the poor as well as to put an end to PDS rice smuggling, the State government decided to supply fine variety rice through fair price shops in the State. Though the government announced that the scheme would be launched on Ugadi, the distribution began only during the last two months. People are also queuing up in front of ration shops to get rice.

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And soon enough, illegal operators, who used to make money by illegally transporting PDS rice to other States, have started smuggling the fine variety rice. They are allegedly collecting the rice from ration dealers and also directly from beneficiaries. It is leant that the Illegal traders, who used to procure normal variety rice by paying Rs.12 to Rs.14, are now providing Rs.18 to Rs.20.

Peddapalli district is allegedly the centre point for smuggling of PDS rice to Maharashtra. Illegal operators, who used to transport rice through trains, have reportedly changed methods following the vigil intensified by the police, and are said to be using roads on barrages constructed as part of Kaleshwaram lift irrigation project. Besides the Sundilla and Annaram barriages, the Kaleshwaram inter-state bridge is also allegedly being utilized for the rice smuggling.

Collecting rice from different places of the district, traders are storing them in secret places in Manthani and its surrounding areas before smuggling to Maharashtra.