Minister Nadendla Manohar conducts surprise inspections at rice mills

Vijayawada:Minister of civil supplies Nadendla Manohar has uncovered irregularities in the distribution of Public Distribution System (PDS) rice during a surprise inspection of seven rice mills in the Guntur and Palnadu districts.

During the inspections, approximately 1,000 metric tonnes of PDS rice paddy were found stored illegally, leading to the registration of criminal cases against those responsible.

The inspections revealed that rice meant for distribution under the government scheme was being hoarded in large quantities at various mills, including Rama Lingeswara Traders Rice Mill in Sattenapalli.

The minister expressed concern after discovering about 100 tonnes of PDS ration in one mill and questioned the local officials why this rice had not been reported. He ordered immediate action, instructing the joint-collector and officials from the metrology and civil supplies departments to conduct thorough inspections and seize the rice mill if necessary.

Address to the media, the minister has emphasised the importance of utilising government provisions for the poor, particularly during challenging economic times. He highlighted that both central and state governments are providing essential commodities such as pulses, sugar and palm oil at subsidised prices.

He urged citizens to take advantage of the free rice distributed through government schemes.

Additionally, he reiterated the coalition government's commitment to fulfilling its promises under the Deepam-II scheme, which allows eligible families to book free LPG cylinders. The booking period runs from October 29 to March 31, 2025, with specific guidelines for urban and rural deliveries. So far, 23 lakh people have booked free cylinders under this scheme, with 16 lakh already receiving them.

The minister also addressed misinformation regarding the Deepam scheme, urging citizens to remain vigilant and report any discrepancies via a toll-free number. He underscored that the government has invested `84 crore to facilitate these distributions to oil companies.