KHAMMAM: There is short supply of rice being supplied through public distribution supply (PDS) in eight districts. They include Khammam, Mahabubabad, Janagaon, Bhupalapalli and Mahabubnagar.
Sources said though rice millers in Khammam district have come forward to supply 30,000 tonnes of rice immediately, government has decided to procure rice from surplus districts, including Suryapet, Karimnagar and Nizamabad.
“Government has to already pay ₹90 crore to rice millers of Khammam. As there is fund crunch, authorities want to instead procure the rice from surplus districts. Such adjustment will continue for the next three months,” a source stated. There are two lakh tonnes of rice stocked in godowns of Matamaplli and Miryalaguda in Suryapet district.
As per details available, nearly 6,500 tonnes of rice is required every month for PDS. The government procured 1.78 lakh tonnes of rice. It has stocked 97,000 tonnes of rice for PDS for 12 months of 2022, including 32,000 tonnes for government educational institutions. Government has handed over the remaining 89,000 tonnes of rice to Food Corporation of India (FCI).
District civil supplies officer G. Somulu said, “State and central governments have distributed free rice to beneficiaries during last seven months keeping in view Covid-19. About six kg of free rice was given to beneficiaries in January, February and March, 10 kg in April, May and June and 15 kg in July and August. These are in addition to the PDS rice."
"The additional quantity of rice required is ranging between 10,000 tonnes and 15.000 tonnes per month. As a result, rice stocks have got depleted. We have written to the government and will get the rice stocks soon,” Somulu assured.
Apart from Khammam, officials of other districts have also informed the government about the short supply they are facing. Instead of getting supplies from rice millers, the government is keener on adjusting the rice from surplus districts during the next three months.
