Vigilance seizes rice worth Rs 48 crore in AP

The Vigilance and Enforcement Department has seized rice worth Rs 48 crore during a special drive across Andhra Pradesh following allegations of diversion of PDS rice and other commodities.
As part of the special drive, 136 rice mills across the state were inspected yesterday and 94 cases were booked under relevant sections of Essential Commodities Act.
During the drive, officials seized 2,99,422 quintals of paddy, 4,22,32 quintals of rice, 1,727 quintals of PDS rice and 12,395 quintals of broken rice all worth Rs 48.02 crore (as per market value), Director General (Vigilance and Enforcement) Department R P Thakur said today.

The department has been receiving large number of complaints about rice millers/traders that they indulge in storing foodgrains like paddy, superfine/common rice, broken rice and PDS rice clandestinely without having foodgrain licences under Andhra Pradesh, the senior official said.
There are some cases wherein it was found that the business was run without FGL/VAT registration.
PDS rice gets diverted from Central and State Wharehousing Corporations, private godowns to rice mills meant for Mandal Level Stock (MLS) points besides from MLS points to rice mills meant for Fair Price Shops (FPS), and also FPS dealers to rice mill/their agents meant for card holders, the official explained.