Crackdown on Black Marketing of PDS Rice Intensifies in Telangana
The illegal black marketing of Public Distribution System (PDS) rice has seen a sharp rise in Telangana this year. According to reports, the Vigilance Wing has seized over 44,000 quintals of PDS rice so far, more than double the average amount seized in the last five years. Officials estimate that this figure could reach 60,000 quintals by the end of the year.
The seized rice is valued at Rs 14 crore, reflecting the intensified efforts by the Vigilance & Enforcement Wing of the Telangana Civil Supplies Corporation Ltd (TGCSC). Since January, the department has ramped up its crackdown, far exceeding the average of 14,000 quintals seized annually between 2019 and 2023. For comparison, the highest recorded seizure in recent years was 20,330 quintals in 2021, which dropped significantly to 8,940 quintals during the 2023 Assembly election year.
This year, the department has also filed 402 cases under Section 6A of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, more than double the five-year average of 183 cases. Additionally, 351 First Information Reports (FIRs) were registered. For the first time in recent history, the department seized 28,750 kiloliters of diesel and impounded 184 vehicles involved in illegal activities. A senior official credited these results to the strengthened vigilance team, which now includes 30 active-duty policemen, including ACP officers, alongside retired personnel. “The average seizures of PDS rice have increased ninefold thanks to our enhanced team and stringent monitoring,” the official noted.
Apart from enforcement, the Telangana Civil Supplies Corporation has introduced stricter policies for paddy procurement and custom milling rice (CMR). Rice millers are now cooperating more effectively, aiding in faster rice milling and logistics. Over the past nine months, the Corporation recovered 1 lakh metric tonnes of rice worth Rs 408 crore from defaulters.
Officials say that criminal cases against defaulters have pushed millers to comply with regulations. This has led to a 55% improvement in delivery speeds compared to previous years. “If the earlier delivery quantity was 100 quintals, it is now 155 quintals. This not only ensures timely delivery but also boosts revenue generation for the Corporation,” the official added.
