PDS rice in Telangana recycled, sold under pricey brands in Maharashtra

By Pillalamarri Srinivas

The civil supplies department has taken serious note of the illegal transportation of PDS rice to neighbouring states like Maharashtra. Earlier, police seized PDS rice in Bhainsa and Bejjur while a civil supplies department task force seized 615 quintals of rice at Chennur in Mancherial district on February 14.

Purchasing PDS rice at cheaper prices and selling it at higher rates has become a big business in the region. Fair price shop owners were allegedly involved in this business.

Bhainsa police seized 40 tonnes of PDS rice packed in 800 bags on February 8 and the next day, police conducted raids on Rauf’s godown at Dharmabad in Maharashtra.

Railway police seized PDS rice being illegally transported in passenger trains between Kagaznagar and Kazipet.

A few days ago, Nirmal police had found that PDS rice was polished at rice mills in Maharashtra and sold under various brands at higher rates. Many families get PDS rice but do not use them. They sell it to others at Rs 15–Rs 20 per kg.

The PDS rice has good demand since women prefer its flour for making snacks and ‘dosa’.

It is found that there are agents who collect PDS rice from card holders in villages and transport the same to other places. It is also suspected that flattened rice is made with PDS rice in other states.

Local agents in interior villages sharing borders with Maharashtra stock PDS rice in gunny or plastic bags and transport it in vehicles to Maharashtra.

A police team led by Bejjur SI Praveen Kumar seized seven quintals of PDS rice in Bareguda in Bejjur mandal.

This article has been republished from The Deccan Chronicle.