Kakinada Port Raid: Massive Quantity of PDS Rice Meant for Export Seized

By Vadrevu Srinath

Civil supplies minister Nadendla Manohar said the state government has seized 26,000 metric tonnes of rice belonging to the public distribution system (PDS) at the Kakinada Port from consignments meant for exports. He spoke to media along with district collector S. Shanmohan and Kakinada MLA Vanamadi Venkateswara Rao after reviewing issues related to export of rice from Kakinada Port with representatives of shipping trade Tuesday.

The minister said they have booked section 6A cases as well as criminal cases against the liable exporters. He maintained that the state government had procured rice at a cost of ₹43.50 per kilo and supplied it free of cost to 1.45 crore white ration cardholders. But some traders had managed to purchase this rice for prices between ₹7 to ₹10 per kilo and are exporting it abroad through Kakinada Port.

Manohar said the government is firm in curbing such irregularities, as rice should reach the real beneficiary. For the purpose, they set up a check post near the Anchorage port on August 5. Civil supplies department officials are conducting random checks before giving no objection certificates to rice that is not meant for PDS. He conceded that the Anchorage port handled nearly 1,100 lorry loads of rice earlier. But after setting up the check post, only 383 lorries have been allowed to reach the port jetties.

The minister said as per the request of shipping traders, two more check posts will be set up and officials would work round the clock for three shifts to ensure that about 1,100 lorries are checked per day. He said a clear plan of action to expedite rice exports from the Anchorage port will be chalked out after holding discussions with labour unions and exporters. He assured that steps will be taken to handle 10,000 metric tonnes of cargo at the port. Manohar clarified that the government is not being vengeful against exporters but only wants to curb irregularities.

This article has been republished from The Deccan Chronicle.