Commissioner for Civil Supplies Akun Sabharwal has taken a serious note on PDS Rice recycling. The Civil Supplies Enforcement and Taskforce teams are keeping a strict vigil on PDS rice irregularities. The Enforcement team on March 11 raided the mills and seized 540 quintals of PDS rice being transported in four lorries from Varun Industries situated at KC Camp, Huzurabad Mandal, Karimnagar District.
The Commissioner responded very seriously on the issue and transferred the officials involved in the scam. He warned that whoever was involved in the PDS Rice Recycling business will be booked under criminal cases and will put behind bars under PD Act.
On Wednesday, the Commissioner made a field visit to Karimnagar and Warangal Districts. He inspected IKP Purchase Centers at Manakondur, Keshavapatnam and reviewed with officials in Karimnagar. He also visited IKP Purchase Centers in Warangal Rural, Urban, Bhoopalpalli, Mahaboobabad and reviewed with officials in Hanamkonda and discussed with the farmers. He also visited Jangaon, Yadadri. He asked the officials to make ground level visits to purchase centres and take necessary steps to see that farmers do not face any loss or problems. Paddy purchasing should be completed faster and shifting of paddy to mills should be done immediately.
Earlier, Akun Sabharwal checked Varun Industries in Huzurabad where PDS Rice was smuggled for recycling and made preliminary investigation with Local RDO, Police and Enforcement Officials. He transferred responsible DCSO A. Usharani and ordered her to report at the Head Office. He also surrendered Deputy Tahasildar M.A. Nawaz and Food Inspected Anwarullah Khan to Revenue Department. He said a complete investigation would be conducted in the case. He warned the officials that strict action will be taken against those involved in the PDS rice smuggling.
The Civil Supplies Department till now purchased 20.95 lakh metric tons of paddy from 3.21 lakh farmers through 3,119 purchase centers and 20.06 LMT of paddy was already shifted to the mills. The value of paddy purchased till now was Rs 3,327.71 crore. (NSS)