CID probe into diversion of PDS rice likely: Minister Nadendla Manohar

VIJAYAWADA: The state govt is contemplating to order CID investigation into the alleged diversion of Public Distribution Supply rice in the state.
The govt is of the view that rice for distribution under PDS was diverted and exported to African nations from Kakinada port in large quantities in the last five years.

Civil supplies minister Nadendla Manohar conducted surprise inspections at stock points in the port and at mills in the last few days and found huge quantities of stock ready for export.
The minister ordered the immediate stoppage of rice exports from Kakinada port till the completion of inspection of stocks. Manohar reviewed the rice exports with senior officials in Kakinada on Sunday and directed them to submit a comprehensive report on the issue.
Manohar expressed displeasure at the civil supplies department officials for not getting prepared with details for the review meeting. He made it clear that the officials who are still not prepared to act according to the instructions of the govt would surely face music in the coming days.
He alleged that Kakinada port has been turned into a hub for PDS rice smuggling by former YSRCP legislator Dwarampudi Chandrasekhara Reddy. He said that the officials acted under pressure of the then ruling YSRCP leaders and helped smuggling of PDS rice meant for distribution to the poor.
“We have seized nearly 12,000 metric tonnes of re-cycled rice from mills in the last two days. The millers and a syndicate of rice smuggling shifted huge stocks to other points following information of our visit. We are not going to leave anyone,” said Manohar.
He said that he would take the issue to the notice of deputy chief minister Pawan Kalyan and chief minister Chandrababu Naidu to take the final call on ordering the CID investigation.
He slammed port officials for not sharing information about the originating point of the rice transport. He said they have also found PDS bag tags in one of the mills they inspected and booked cases under 6-A of Essential Commodities Act.
He said that the cases under Essential Commodities Act, Weights and Measures Act and CRPC would also be slapped against the scamsters.
Manohar said that the state govt is purchasing rice at ₹38 per kg to distribute to the poor at ₹2 per kg.
The millers and rice scamsters were picking the same stock at ₹8-10 per kg and exporting to African nations at huge price.